Subscapularis tendon avulsions and biceps tendon dislocations. A series of forty five patients

Our series consists of 45 lesions of the subscapularis tendon investigated by arthrography and CT arthrography. Arthrography demonstrated opacification of the sub-acromial bursa in 24 % of cases, internal malposition of the long head of biceps in 46 % of cases and direct signs of a lesion of the subscapularis tendon in 91 % of cases. CT arthrography showed incomplete transverse avulsion in 18 % of cases and complete transverse avulsion in 82 % of cases. The biceps was dislocated in 35 % of cases, and subluxated in 11 % of cases. The subscapularis muscle was infiltrated by fat in 46 % of cases. Isolated lesions of the subscapularis can be difficult to diagnose clinically and are more frequent than generally thought. CT arthrography must therefore be requested at the slightest doubt, as the intraoperative search for a lesion of the subscapularis tendon is sometimes difficult. (authors)