Arthroscopic Debridement and Biceps Tenotomy/Tenodesis for the Management of Massive Rotator Cuff Tears

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 191-194
Author(s):  
Justin W. Griffin ◽  
Anthony A. Romeo
2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (14) ◽  
pp. 3486-3494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengcun Chen ◽  
Snehal S. Shetye ◽  
Julianne Huegel ◽  
Corinne N. Riggin ◽  
Daniel J. Gittings ◽  
...  

Background: Lesions of the long head of the biceps tendon are often associated with massive rotator cuff tears (MRCTs), and biceps tenotomy is frequently performed for pain relief and functional reservation. However, the efficacy and safety of biceps tenotomy regarding the effects on the surrounding tissues in chronic MRCT are unclear. Hypothesis: Biceps tenotomy would result in improved mechanical and histological properties of the intact subscapularis tendon and improved in vivo shoulder function while not compromising glenoid cartilage properties. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Right supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons were detached in 25 male Sprague-Dawley rats, followed by 4 weeks of cage activity to create a chronic MRCT condition. Animals were randomly divided into 2 groups and received either biceps tenotomy (n = 11) or sham surgery (n = 14) and were sacrificed 4 weeks thereafter. Forelimb gait and ground-reaction forces were recorded 1 day before the tendon detachment (baseline), 1 day before the surgical intervention (biceps tenotomy or sham), and 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28 days after the intervention to assess in vivo shoulder joint function. The subscapularis tendon and glenoid cartilage were randomly allocated for mechanical testing or histologic assessment after the sacrifice. Results: Compared with sham surgery, biceps tenotomy partially restored the in vivo shoulder joint function, with several gait and ground-reaction force parameters returning closer to preinjury baseline values at 4 weeks. With biceps tenotomy, mechanical properties of the subscapularis tendons were improved, while mechanical properties and histological Mankin scores of the glenoid cartilage were not diminished when compared with the sham group. Conclusion: Biceps tenotomy in the presence of chronic MRCT partially preserves overall shoulder function and potentially restores subscapularis tendon health without causing detrimental effects to joint cartilage. This laboratory study adds to the growing literature regarding the protective effects of biceps tenotomy on the shoulder joint in a chronic MRCT model. Clinical Relevance: This study provides important basic science evidence supporting the use of biceps tenotomy in patients with massive rotator cuff tears.


2004 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Michael Klinger ◽  
Hanno Steckel ◽  
Thorsten Ernstberger ◽  
Mike H. Baums

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 558-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet ◽  
T. Bradley Edwards ◽  
Eric Noel ◽  
Gilles Walch

Background Tennis players, like participants in other overhead sports, are vulnerable to rotator cuff tears. In players who continue to play into their middle-age years, the incidence of such injury increases. Hypothesis Surgical treatment of rotator cuff tears in middle-aged tennis players is largely successful in allowing return to tennis. Study Design Retrospective review. Methods We evaluated the results of surgical treatment of 51 middle-aged tennis players (average age, 51 years) with a rotator cuff tear in their dominant shoulder. Tennis participation among the group had averaged 3.5 hours per week for an average of 25 years. Forty-two patients underwent open repair of the tear with or without biceps tenodesis, whereas 9 patients underwent arthroscopic debridement of the tear with or without a biceps tenotomy. Patients were reviewed at an average of 57 months after surgery with an activities score, a subjective questionnaire, and a questionnaire regarding their postoperative participation in tennis. Results The activities score averaged 26.6 of 30 possible points. Forty-seven patients were satisfied with their result, and 40 patients were able to return to tennis at an average of 9.8 months after surgery. No difference was found in the ability to return to tennis between the open repair group and the arthroscopic debridement group. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that it is possible for nearly 80% of middle-aged tennis players to return to participation after operative treatment of rotator cuff tears.


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