Clinical effect of arthroscopic long head of biceps transfer and tenodesis on irreparable rotator cuff tear

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effect of arthroscopic long head of biceps transfer and tenodesis for on irreparable rotator cuff tear. METHODS: A total of 18 patients with irreparable rotator cuff tear who were treated in the Dongfang Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine from April 2018 to March 2020 were included in this study. They all underwent arthroscopic long head of biceps transfer and tenodesis. Shoulder joint motions (forward flexion, abduction, and external rotation angle) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed. Moreover, visual analogue scale (VAS) and university of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score were conducted during follow-up. RESULTS: Preoperative symptoms lasted from 3 to 16 months, with an average duration of 10 months. All patients healed in the first stage without obvious complications were included. All patients were followed up for 4 to 14 months after the surgery, with an average duration of 11.1 months. The range of shoulder joint motions, including forward flexion (80.52° ± 31.19° vs. 149.47° ± 28.36°), abduction (65.13° ± 37.59° vs. 152.46° ± 28.64°) and lateral rotation (30.17° ± 15.15° vs. 71.49° ± 11.42°) was significantly improved after operation (P < 0.05). The VAS score was notably decreased after operation (8.46 ± 0.80 vs. 1.55 ± 0.70), but the UCLA score was markedly increased (15.27 ± 2.89 vs. 31.17 ± 2.36). MRI imaging showed that 15 patients had good tissue healing, with a healing rate of 83.3% (15/18). CONCLUSION: Arthroscopy of the biceps long head tendon transposition can significantly relieve pain in patients with large rotator cuff tears, improve joint mobility, and restore joint function.