Arthroscopic Biceps Tenodesis: Midterm Clinical Results of a New Anchor Suture Technique in Patients with Single-Row Rotator Cuff Repair

Objective. This study evaluated the midterm clinical results of doing the arthroscopic proximal long head of the biceps tenodesis with an anchor suture of subscapularis or supraspinatus repair in patients with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Methods. We evaluated the clinical results of long head of biceps tendon tenodesis in patients with single-row rotator cuff repair. They were all treated with our technique in which we did the tenodesis with anchor suture of rotator cuff repair in a manner that provides both bony and soft tissue attachment for the tendon. We evaluated the results of the long head of the biceps (LHB) tenodesis in all patients by looking for Popeye deformity, anterior shoulder tenderness, asking for anterior shoulder pain, and measuring elbow flexion and forearm supination force compared to the normal side as a primary goal, and compared results of LHB tenodesis with subscapularis or supra-spinatus tendon suture as a secondary goal too. Results. A number of 131 patients participated in the final follow-up: 34 patients had LHB tenodesis with subscapularis tendon suture and 95 patients with supraspinatus tendon suture. Mean of follow-up time was four years (24 to 71 months). Two patients had the Popeye deformity (1.5%), five patients had the anterior shoulder tenderness (3.8%), and seven patients suffered from anterior shoulder pain (5.3%). Elbow flexion and forearm supination forces were measured in the affected and non-affected limbs. There was no significant difference between the two limbs. Those who had LHB teno-desis with supraspinatus anchor suture had better results and less complications. Conclusions. Arthroscopic tenodesis of the LHB tendon incorporated into single-row rotator cuff repair is a cost-efficient method, leading to better results for implant or soft tissue tenodesis too. Fixing to supraspinatus tendon seems to have better results and fewer complications compared to subscapularis tendon.