Abstract
Purpose
Tenodesis of the long head of biceps is an established technique for management of biceps pathology including tears, instability, and chronic tendinosis intractable to non-operative management. Very few studies have reported on clinical outcomes of all-arthroscopic, non-interference, biceps tenodesis techniques. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the functional and quality of life outcomes of patients treated with an all-arthroscopic biceps tenodesis with a suture anchor.
Method
Case Series Level 4 Evidence
Fifty-eight (58) patients with a mean age of 58.5 years were treated with an arthroscopic biceps tenodesis in a single surgeons practice. A single suture anchor was used with a non-interference technique, either in isolation or in association with an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. A retrospective analysis was performed on prospectively collected outcome measures on patients with a minimum one-year follow-up. Patients were evaluated with an ASES, Constant, and WORC scores pre-operatively and at 6 and 12 months post-operatively. In addition, patients were questioned post-operatively as to whether they experienced any biceps cramping, fatigue, or cosmetic deformity (popeye sign).
Results
Following an all-arthroscopic biceps tenodesis, the ASES, Constant, and WORC scores improved significantly from 45, 54, 32 to 58, 75, 73 respectively (P<0.001). When analyzed separately, patients who underwent an arthroscopic biceps tenodesis in isolation (no cuff repair) and in association with an arthroscopic cuff repair demonstrated similar gains in functional and quality of life outcomes. (P<0.001). Few patients reported post-operative bicipital cramping, fatigue, or cosmetic deformity.
Conclusion
The all-arthroscopic biceps tenodesis is a reliable procedure that results in significant improvement in functional outcome and quality of life measures.
