Biceps Tendon Injuries

Dr Marcus Chia - Shoulder Surgeon

Learn about biceps tendon injury causes and treatment options.

What are biceps tendon injuries?

Biceps tendon injuries are injuries that occur on the tendons that attach the biceps muscle to the shoulder.

The biceps muscle is located at the upper part of the arm. This is the muscle you use to bend your elbow and rotate your forearm.

The upper part of the biceps muscle is attached to the shoulder with two tendons – the long head and short head.

The long head tendon passes inside the shoulder joint itself and is susceptible to injury.

Biceps tendon injuries can also occur on the elbow. The lower part of the biceps muscle is attached to the forearm with a single tendon.

What causes biceps tendon injuries?

Biceps tendon injuries can occur when the tendons can become weakened and inflamed (biceps tendonitis) over time from chronic overuse or heavy lifting.

Overuse leads to fraying of the tendon. Sometimes, overuse can cause a complete tear or rupture.

Biceps tendon injuries are also common in people who have arthritis and tears of the rotator cuff muscles around the shoulder.

How do I know if I have a biceps tendon injury?

The most obvious symptom of a biceps tendon injury is pain. If you have injured the tendon, you might hear or feel a ‘pop’ when the tendon tears.

Other symptoms include weakness in the shoulder or elbow, or a bulge in the arm called a ‘popeye’ deformity.

If you think you may have a biceps injury, Dr Chia will examine your shoulder and elbow and take X-rays. You might also need an MRI to confirm the injury and rule out any associated damage to the shoulder.

What are the treatment options for biceps tendon injuries?

The treatment options for biceps tendon injuries include rest and surgery.

Rest

If you don’t need surgery for your injury, Dr Chia will develop a personalised treatment plan to help you heal and recover well.

After your injury, you will need to rest and apply ice to the painful area. You may also need pain-relieving medications or a corticosteroid injection to manage the pain. Your treatment plan may also include physiotherapy and strengthening exercises which will help you to regain the strength and flexibility lost while you were injured.

Surgery

Dr Chia will assess your biceps tendon injury to determine whether you need surgery. Surgery can depend on your age, activity level, the seriousness of the injury and whether you have already tried to heal the injury with rest. Biceps tendon tears at the elbow often need surgery.

Surgery involves either cutting the tendon within the shoulder joint (a biceps tenotomy) or reattaching the tendon outside of the shoulder joint using keyhole surgery.

Keyhole surgery, also known as minimally invasive surgery, is successful in getting rid of the pain while maintaining the normal function of the shoulder.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. The information provided here is for general educational purposes only. For more information on biceps tendonitis or to learn more about arthroscopic biceps tenotomy or biceps tenodesis, please contact the office of Dr Marcus Chia - Sydney Orthopaedic Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon.

For appointments and enquiries, please phone (02) 8014 4252

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