Biceps Tenodesis

Overview:

Biceps muscle helps in performing of various activities of daily living. It is essentially involved in all functions performed by the upper limb. Being a predominant flexor of the elbow, there is a synchrony of movements that helps us do the activities of daily living. Athletes involved in any sport actively use the biceps tendon. Sometimes with jerky movements or sudden explosive contraction of the muscle leads to avulsion/Tear of the tendon at the origin or insertion. Biceps tenodesis means healing the tendon to the bone.

Distal Biceps repair using Arthrex distal biceps repair system
Distal Biceps repair using Arthrex distal biceps repair system

Pathogenesis:

The biceps arises in the shoulder joint and attaches in the proximal part of the forearm. Patients are both in elderly and young age group. Elderly patients have an accompanying shoulder arthritis or rotator cuff lesions which have poorer prognosis. Young patients have an excellent prognosis proximal or distal. Steroid use, unsupervised excess load bearing, explosive eccentric contractions may lead to a tear in the tendon attachment requiring surgical treatment. Commonly found are tear of the dominant side due to repeated overuse.

3 months post distal biceps tenodesis in the non dominant arm
3 months post distal biceps tenodesis in the non dominant arm

Treatment:

The use of clinical tests to diagnose the injury is the first step after taking a detailed history. Mostly the diagnosis is confirmed with an Ultrasonography/ MRI for the injured site. This is followed by planning and execution of the tenodesis. We use Arthrex™ distal biceps repair system in regular sports injuries for tenodesis (joining tendon to bone). With the use of bio absorbable implants, we try to replicate biology as closely as possible. With early repair/tenodesis, excellent results are a rule. Tenodesis is a result oriented surgery requiring extensive rehabilitation in a tailored manner.