Correlation between the morphology of the biceps groove and injuries to the biceps pulley and the long head tendon of the biceps

Abstract

Purpose: The morphometric parameters of the osseous structures of the biceps groove were measured to investigate their correlation with the structural injury of the trochlear and the long head tendon of the biceps. Methods: A total of 126 patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery had their biceps tendons and bicipital groove morphologies prospectively evaluated on a 3D reconstruction model of the humeral head. The width of groove, depth of groove, opening angle, medial wall angle, and inclination angle of the bicipital groove were measured for each patient. During the surgery, the type of injury to the biceps pulley and the degree of biceps longus tendon injury were assessed. The correlations of these injury assessments with bicipital groove measurements were analyzed. Results: The average width of groove was 12.52 mm ± 2.11 mm. The average depth was 4.88 mm ± 1.38 mm. The average inclination angle was 26.27° ± 8.10°. The average opening angle was 89.77° ± 18.40°. The average medial wall angle was 40.57° ± 7.93°. Significant biceps pulley structural injury was observed in 66 patients, and their Martetschlager classifications were as follows: type I injury in 12 patients, type II injury in 18 patients, and type III injury in 36 patients. The Lafosse grades of long head tendon injury were as follows: 72 cases were grade 0 injury, 30 cases were grade I injury, and 18 cases were grade II injury. We found no significant correlation between the opening width, depth, inclination angle, opening angle, and medial wall angle of bicipital groove and injuries of the pulley and the long head of the biceps tendon. Conclusion:This study does not find a correlation between the injury of the pulley or the long head of the biceps tendon and bicipital groove morphology.