Biceps tenotomy or tenodesis in association with rotator cuff repair: is there an influence on functional results? A retrospective cohort study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Instability or tears of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) may be present in more than 35% of rotator cuff repairs (RCR). OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical results from patients undergoing arthroscopic RCR, according to the procedure performed at the LHBT. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective cohort study designed at the shoulder and elbow clinic of Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Functional results among patients were compared using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) scales, according to the LHBT approach adopted: no procedure, tenotomy or tenodesis. RESULTS: We evaluated 306 shoulders (289 patients): 133 underwent no procedure at the LHBT, 77 tenotomy and 96 tenodesis. The ASES scale at 24 months showed no difference (P = 0.566) between the groups without LHBT procedure (median 90.0; interquartile range, IQR 29), tenotomy (median 90.0; IQR 32.1) or tenodesis (median 94.4; IQR 22.7); nor did the UCLA scale (median 33; IQR 7 versus median 31; IQR 8 versus median 33; IQR 5, respectively, P = 0.054). The groups differed in the preoperative functional assessment according to the ASES and UCLA scale, such that the tenodesis group started from higher values. However, there was no difference in pre and postoperative scores between the groups. CONCLUSION: Tenodesis or tenotomy of the LHBT, in the sample analyzed, did not influence the clinical results from RCR, as assessed using the ASES and UCLA scales.

The relevant anatomy of the biceps tendon when performing tenodesis in Filipino cadaveric specimens

BACKGROUND@#Biceps tenodesis is a technique frequently performed in shoulder surgeries. Various techniques have been described, but there is no consensus on which technique restores the length-tension relationship. Restoration of the physiologic length-tension relationship has been correlated to better functional outcomes, such as decreased incidence of residual pain or weakness of the biceps. The objective of this study was to measure the anatomic relationship of the origin of the biceps tendon with its zones in the upper extremity. This would provide an anatomic guide or an acceptable placement of the tenodesis to reestablish good biceps tension during surgery@*METHODS@#The study used nine adult cadavers (five males, four females) from the [withheld for blinded review]. Nine shoulder specimens were dissected and markers were placed at five points along each biceps tendon: (1) Labral origin (LO) (2) Superior bicipital groove (SBG) (3) Superior border of the pectoralis tendon (SBPMT) (4) Musculotendinous junction (MTJ) and (5) Inferior border of the pectoralis tendon (IBPMT). Using the origin of the tendon as the initial point of reference, measurements were made to the four subsequent sites. The humeral length was recorded by measuring the distance between the greater tuberosity and the lateral epicondyle as well as the tendon diameter at the articular surface.@*RESULTS@#The intraclass correlation coefficient was excellent across all measures. A total of nine cadavers were included. Mean age of patients was 66.33 years old, ranging from 52-82 years old. These were composed of five male and four female cadavers. The mean tendon length was 24.83mm ± 4.32 from the origin to the superior border of the bicipital groove, 73.50mm ± 6.96 to the Superior Border Pectoralis Major Tendon, 100.89mm ± 6.88 to the Musculotendinous Junction, and 111.11mm ± 7.45 to the Inferior Border Pectoralis Major Tendon. The mean tendon diameter at the articular origin was 6.44mm ± 1.76.@*CONCLUSION@#This study provided measurement guidelines that could restore the natural length-tension relationship during biceps tenodesis using the interference screw technique in Filipinos. A simple method of restoring a normal length-tension relationship is by doing tenodesis close to the articular origin and creating a bone socket of approximately 25mm in depth, using the superior border of the bicipital groove as a landmark.

A Comparison between Arthroscopic Biceps Tenodesis and Arthroscopic Repair in Isolated Type 2 Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior Lesions

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcome in patients aged less than 55 years who underwent arthroscopic tenodesis and arthroscopic repair for type 2 superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions. METHODS: Between April 2008 and December 2014, surgery was performed on a total of 45 patients with isolated type 2 SLAP lesions. Arthroscopic repair was performed in 22 patients and arthroscopic tenodesis was performed in 23 patients. In both groups, the clinical outcomes at follow-ups were evaluated using the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score. RESULTS: In both groups, the VAS scores for pain had improved significantly throughout the postoperative follow-up period. The VAS score showed a statistically significant difference at postoperative 3 and 6 months (p0.05). In both groups, the functional outcome was statistically improved postoperatively. In a comparison of the UCLA and ASES scores between the two groups, there was a statistically significant difference at postoperative 3 and 6 months (p0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this and other studies, patients with isolated type 2 SLAP lesions showed better short-term clinical outcome with tenodesis than with repair. However, there was no difference between the two groups at the final follow-up.

A Comparison between Arthroscopic Biceps Tenodesis and Arthroscopic Repair in Isolated Type 2 Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior Lesions

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcome in patients aged less than 55 years who underwent arthroscopic tenodesis and arthroscopic repair for type 2 superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions. METHODS: Between April 2008 and December 2014, surgery was performed on a total of 45 patients with isolated type 2 SLAP lesions. Arthroscopic repair was performed in 22 patients and arthroscopic tenodesis was performed in 23 patients. In both groups, the clinical outcomes at follow-ups were evaluated using the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score. RESULTS: In both groups, the VAS scores for pain had improved significantly throughout the postoperative follow-up period. The VAS score showed a statistically significant difference at postoperative 3 and 6 months (p0.05). In both groups, the functional outcome was statistically improved postoperatively. In a comparison of the UCLA and ASES scores between the two groups, there was a statistically significant difference at postoperative 3 and 6 months (p0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this and other studies, patients with isolated type 2 SLAP lesions showed better short-term clinical outcome with tenodesis than with repair. However, there was no difference between the two groups at the final follow-up.

Arthroscopic Percutaneous Repair of Anterosuperior Rotator Cuff Tear Including Biceps Long Head: A 2-Year Follow-up

BACKGROUND: To report the results of an arthroscopic percutaneous repair technique for partial-thickness tears of the anterosuperior cuff combined with a biceps lesion. METHODS: The inclusion criteria were evidence of the upper subscapularis tendon tear and an articular side partial-thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon, degeneration of the biceps long head or degenerative superior labrum anterior-posterior, above lesions treated by arthroscopic percutaneous repair, and follow-up duration > 24 months after the operation. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, constant score, the pain level on a visual analogue scale, ranges of motion and strength were assessed. RESULTS: The mean (+/- standard deviation) age of the 20 enrolled patients was 56.0 +/- 7.7 years. The forward flexion strength increased from 26.3 +/- 6.7 Nm preoperatively to 38.9 +/- 5.1 Nm at final follow-up. External and internal rotation strength was also significantly increased (14.2 +/- 1.7 to 19.1 +/- 3.03 Nm, 12.3 +/- 3.2 to 18.1 +/- 2.8 Nm, respectively). Significant improvement was observed in ASES and constant scores at 3 months, 1 year and the time of final follow-up when compared with preoperative scores (p < 0.001). The mean subjective shoulder value was 86% (range, 78% to 97%). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of complete rotator cuff repair with concomitant tenodesis of the biceps long head using arthroscopic percutaneous repair achieved full recovery of normal rotator cuff function, maximum therapeutic efficacy, and patient satisfaction.