title: Visualization of the extra-articular portion of the long head of the biceps tendon during intra-articular shoulder arthroscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the amount of the extra-articular long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) seen during intra-articular shoulder arthroscopy by pulling the tendon into the joint with a probe through an anterior portal while viewing through a standard posterior portal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intra-articular shoulder arthroscopy was performed on 10 forequarter cadaveric specimens. The extra-articular portion of the LHBT was evaluated by pulling the tendon into the joint with an arthroscopic probe inserted through an anterior portal. The tendon was marked at the pulley insertion on the humerus with a vascular clip before and after the tendon was pulled into the joint. An open deltopectoral approach was performed, and the amount of extra-articular tendon visualized was calculated as an absolute amount and in relation to nearby anatomic structures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An additional 1.9 cm (range, 1.4 to 2.6 cm) of extra-articular LHBT was viewed by pulling the tendon into the joint with an arthroscopic probe through an anterior portal during shoulder arthroscopy. This represented 30.8% of the extra-articular portion of the tendon, 47.7% of tendon in the bicipital groove, and 76.3% of the tendon that lies under the area from the pulley insertion to the distal edge of the transverse humeral ligament.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During intra-articular shoulder arthroscopy, the extra-articular portion of the LHBT is incompletely visualized by pulling the tendon into the joint with a probe placed through an anterior portal while viewing through a standard posterior portal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An additional extra-articular portion of the LHBT may be viewed by pulling the tendon into the joint with an arthroscopic probe during shoulder arthroscopy.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Medical Sciences, Seton Hall University, Wayne, New Jersey, U.S.A.. Electronic address: anthonyfestamd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Festa
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Medical Sciences, Seton Hall University, Wayne, New Jersey, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allert
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Medical Sciences, Seton Hall University, Wayne, New Jersey, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Kimona
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Issa
authors.affiliation: San Diego Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, San Diego, California, U.S.A.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Tasto
authors.affiliation: San Diego Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, San Diego, California, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Jonathan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Myer
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D013710:Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology*