title: Progression of degenerative changes of the biceps tendon after successful rotator cuff repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated the morphologic changes in the biceps tendon using ultrasonography before and after successful arthroscopic posterosuperior rotator cuff repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients (44 shoulders) underwent arthroscopic posterosuperior rotator cuff repair with 1-year postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) follow-up. The patients comprised 22 men and 22 women with an average age of 61 years. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the biceps tendon in the bicipital groove was measured, and the vascularity in the bicipital groove was graded as 0 to 3, based on the signal density of the anterior circumflex artery, using power Doppler ultrasonography. The preoperative and postoperative CSA and vascularity grades were compared. The pain score on the University of California, Los Angeles Shoulder Rating Scale was used to analyze the correlation between vascularity and postoperative pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average preoperative and postoperative CSA of the biceps tendon was 15.4 ± 6.5 and 17.9 ± 7.5 mm2, respectively. The postoperative CSA was significantly larger than the preoperative CSA (P < .01). Although no significant difference in the vascularity of the bicipital groove was observed between preoperative and postoperative grading, a negative correlation was observed between the vascularity and postoperative pain score on the University of California, Los Angeles scale (r = -0.369).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The biceps tendon in the bicipital groove becomes thicker over time, even after successful posterosuperior rotator cuff repair. In addition, an increase in the vascularity around the biceps tendon in the groove is correlated with pain symptoms after successful repair.
authors.affiliation: Shoulder and Elbow Center, Funabashi Orthopaedic Hospital, Funabashi, Japan. Electronic address: n-h-taka@qc4.so-net.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Norimasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Shoulder and Elbow Center, Funabashi Orthopaedic Hospital, Funabashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Funabashi Orthopaedic Hospital, Funabashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Momoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Funabashi Orthopaedic Hospital, Funabashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hikaru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
authors.affiliation: Shoulder and Elbow Center, Funabashi Orthopaedic Hospital, Funabashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuki
authors.affiliation: Shoulder and Elbow Center, Funabashi Orthopaedic Hospital, Funabashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Morihito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tokai
authors.affiliation: Shoulder and Elbow Center, Funabashi Orthopaedic Hospital, Funabashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.affiliation: Shoulder and Elbow Center, Funabashi Orthopaedic Hospital, Funabashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazutomo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Onishi
authors.affiliation: Shoulder and Elbow Center, Funabashi Orthopaedic Hospital, Funabashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.affiliation: Shoulder and Elbow Center, Funabashi Orthopaedic Hospital, Funabashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Shota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoshika
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011379:Prognosis; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D012782:Shoulder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology; D013710:Tendons / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Long head of the biceps; anterior shoulder pain; arthroscopic rotator cuff repair; biceps hypertrophy; power Doppler sonography; ultrasound