For instance, chronic inflammations or partial tears in the long head of biceps tendon are common, and these can cause some extremely unpleasant problems in the anterior shoulder region. The inflammatory adhesions which occur with these can in many cases be treated endoscopically.

Tears in the long head of biceps tendon, from the lip of the joint socket (glenoid labrum) at the upper margin of the glenoid cavity (SLAP lesions), occur frequently. They are treatable arthroscopically with special suture techniques (refixation of tendon to glenoid labrum).

Another cause of conditions which specifically affect the biceps tendon is tendon instability, both in the joint region and at the bony groove of the humerus. However, only a few centers, which specialize in the shoulder, are sufficiently conversant with the first cause of pain. Accordingly, only specialists experienced in shoulder pathology should undertake the appropriate minimally invasive reconstructions which require technical precision work.