Biceps tenodesis (long head): arthroscopic keyhole technique versus arthroscopic interference screw: a prospective comparative clinical and radiographic marker study.

PURPOSE: The long head biceps tenodesis (LHBT) is an alternative to tenotomy in order to prevent Popeye sign.Biomechanical studies showed that interference screw(IFS) was the strongest fixation but there might be complications and cost. What's more, the analyses of tenodesis failures are undervalued because they only take visible deformations of the arm into account. The purpose of this study was to compare a modified arthroscopic "keyhole" LHBT (modified @KH) with an arthroscopic IFS LHBT(@IFS) using an objective method. We hypothesized that modified @KH gave similar clinical outcomes as @IFS without its hassles or drawbacks.

METHODS: We present a 12-month prospective comparative study (modified @KH versus @IFS) performed by two experienced orthopedic surgeons. Modified @KH was performed on one hundred and nine patients versus @IFS that was performed on one hundred and two. A radiopaque marker was placed into the tendon. The review was conducted in the sixth month with clinical examination and plain standard X-ray to objectify the potential migration of the marker.

RESULTS: Modified @KH showed 2.4 % visible deformity without any Popeye sign but 3.4 % radiographic metallic marker migrations. No complications were noted. @IFS showed 5.8 % visible deformity with 2.9 % Popeye sign and with 10.3 % radiographic metallic marker migrations;pain at tenodesis location was noted in 2 %. P value (0.13) indicates that there were no statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSION: We confirm the hypothesis that the modified@KH gives clinical and radiographic outcomes at least similar to @IFS without any complications and cost. The establishment of the radiopaque marker allows us to know the exact number of failures.Level of evidence Consecutive prospective comparative clinical, Level II-1 studies.