Shoulder MR Arthrography Complication – Direct Injection of the Biceps Tendon: A Case Report

A 47-year-old male presents for a shoulder arthrography after a one-month history of shoulder pain following a lifting injury with heavy sandbags. During the lifting injury he felt the shoulder ‘pop out’. The humeral head reportedly reduced soon after, however, he continued to experience residual symptoms. Upon physical exam, there was audible clicking with shoulder abduction and a positive O’Brien’s test. Otherwise, motor strength and tone of the patient was intact with full range of motion. Clinical concern of our patient was for labral tear, and Magnetic Resonance (MR) arthrogram was ordered at the request of the referring orthopedic surgeon because the previous non-contrast outside MRI did not definitively diagnose a labral tear, and the patient’s symptoms persisted.