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Rotator Interval and Biceps Tendon Disorders

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Shoulder Arthroscopy

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Abstract

Lesions of the rotator interval and long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) complex are well documented; however, the pathology is not yet completely understood. As contractures of the rotator interval are mainly treated non-surgically, laxity of the interval may be combined with additional symptomatic anterior–inferior glenohumeral instability, requiring surgical stabilization. Additionally, multiple surgical techniques have been proposed for the management of patients with LHBT-related pain, without an existing consensus regarding treatment. Arthroscopic procedures include simple tenotomy as well as intra-articular or suprapectoral tenodesis, with fixation of the tendon stump using suture anchors or tenodesis screws. Clinical outcomes of tenotomy and tenodesis (whether done arthroscopically or open) have been variable, with none of the techniques showing a clear functional superiority. Thus, surgical decision-making should be adjusted to patient-individual demands, using a technique the surgeon is most comfortable with.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Lukas N. Muench & Knut Beitzel

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UConn Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA

    Lukas N. Muench, Colin Uyeki & Augustus D. Mazzocca

  3. Department of Shoulder Surgery, ATOS Orthoparc Clinic, Cologne, Germany

    Knut Beitzel

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  1. Lukas N. Muench
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  2. Colin Uyeki
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  3. Knut Beitzel
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  4. Augustus D. Mazzocca
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Correspondence to Lukas N. Muench .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Joint and Bone Surgery, University of Brescia, Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Giuseppe Milano

  2. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Casa di Cura Villa Valeria, Rome, Roma, Italy

    Andrea Grasso

  3. Shoulder and Upper Limb Department, St. Luke's Hospital, Bielsko-Biała, Poland

    Roman Brzóska

  4. Department of Traumatology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Ladislav Kovačič

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Muench, L.N., Uyeki, C., Beitzel, K., Mazzocca, A.D. (2023). Rotator Interval and Biceps Tendon Disorders. In: Milano, G., Grasso, A., Brzóska, R., Kovačič, L. (eds) Shoulder Arthroscopy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-66868-9_38

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-66868-9_38

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