Lesions of the Long Head Biceps Pulley

Lesions of the long head biceps tendon pulley are frequent causes of shoulder dysfunction and pain. These lesions cause instability of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHB), and intra-articular tear of the subscapularis and the supraspinatus tendon might result from them. The arthroscopic repair of these lesions has not gained widespread acceptance as an effective procedure. Predictable results can be obtained by treating these lesions more definitively with tenotomy or tenodesis. The purpose of this article is to review the anatomy and properties of the LHB pulley and to provide treatment strategies for alleviating pulley lesions.