Arthroscopic Suprapectoral and Open Subpectoral Biceps Tenodesis: Radiographic Characteristics.
To provide a detailed account of the location of the long head of the biceps (LHB) tenodesis tunnels using an all-arthroscopic suprapectoral technique in a prospective group of patients. These patients were then compared with a retrospective group of open subpectoral tenodesis patients of similar characteristics.



Postoperative radiographs from a prospective group of all-arthroscopic suprapectoral LHB tenodeses were compared with a retrospective group of open subpectoral tenodeses. Digital anteroposterior images were used to measure distances from clinically pertinent radiographic landmarks to tenodesis tunnel sites.



Forty patients (20 all-arthroscopic, 20 open) met the inclusion criteria. The inferior border of the bicipital groove was located a mean distance of 33.7 ± 6.9 mm from the top of the humeral head. The mean distance measured in the open group was approximately 28 mm (P < .001) distal compared with the arthroscopic group. The humeral diameter was 7.5 ± 5.4 mm narrower at the subpectoral tenodesis site (P < .001). All 20 patients in the open subpectoral group had tenodesis tunnels placed distal to the bicipital groove compared with 17 of 20 patients (85%) in the all-arthroscopic group. There were 2 cases of lateral wall cortical reaming during subpectoral tenodesis but no periprosthetic humeral fractures. There were 2 cases of bicortical reaming during the all-arthroscopic tenodesis with no known complications.



The location of biceps tenodesis significantly differs between all-arthroscopic suprapectoral and open subpectoral techniques, and the open subpectoral method achieves fixation in a significantly narrower region of the humerus.



Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Justin L
JL
Hodgins
Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
David
D
Kovacevic
Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Stephen
S
Purcell
Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Charles M
CM
Jobin
Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
William N
WN
Levine
Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.. Electronic address: csa4@cumc.columbia.edu.
Christopher S
CS
Ahmad
D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D053656:Tenodesis / Q000379:methods*