title: The arterial supply of the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii in the human: a combined anatomical and radiological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Arthroscopic repair of superior labral anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesions is often associated with a prolonged period of pain during the rehabilitation process. This might possibly be due to hypoxia in the biceps tendon anchor caused by sutures. The purpose of the study was to investigate the arterial supply of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon (LHBT) that may be impaired by surgery in the region of the biceps tendon anchor.
  
  
  METHODS
  On 20 human formalin-fixed bodies, the anterior circumflex humeral artery (ACHA) was located and followed into the intertubercular groove until it reached the LHBT. On 10 fresh-frozen anatomic specimens of the upper extremities, contrast medium was injected into the axillary artery, a 3D scan was performed, and multiplanar reconstructed (MPR) slices were generated. A set of maximum intensity projection (MIP) reconstructions from 10 computed tomography angiographies (CTA) of the upper extremities was used to confirm the findings of the 3D scan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All anatomical dissections and radiological investigations revealed that the proximal portion of the LHBT was consistently supplied by an ascending branch of the ACHA. No artery was found to supply the biceps tendon anchor from the proximal aspect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the arterial supply of the LHBT is mainly provided by the ACHA, which enters the glenohumeral joint from the distal aspect, surgery at the bony origin of the LHBT may not interfere with this specific vessel.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Vienna, Department of Traumatology, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: sandra.boesmueller@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boesmueller
authors.affiliation: AUVA Trauma Center Vienna Meidling, Kundratstraße 37, A-1120 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fialka
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Vienna, Center of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Anatomy, Waehringer Straße 13, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pretterklieber
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013710:Tendons / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: 3D scan; Anterior circumflex humeral artery; Arterial supply; Biceps tendon; Computed tomography angiography (CTA); SLAP lesion