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“Tomydesis” might be a reliable technique for lesions of the long head of the biceps tendon associated with rotator cuff tears: a minimum 6-month prospective clinical follow-up study

  • Original Article • SHOULDER - ARTHROSCOPY
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European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To compare the clinical outcomes of self-locking T-tenotomy called “tomydesis” to three different techniques of tenodesis for lesions of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) associated with rotator cuff tears.

Hypothesis

Tomydesis could provide similar clinical outcomes than the other LHBT tenodesis techniques.

Methods

This prospective multicentre study included 77 patients who underwent rotator cuff repair concomitant with one of four surgical techniques on the LHBT. All patients had a minimum of 6-month follow-up post-operatively. Outcomes were evaluated based on the Constant score, SSV, pain on visual analogue scale, biceps-specific pain and Popeye deformity on photographs.

Results

There was no difference for the pain at the biceps muscle belly (p = 0.58), the bicipital groove (p = 0.69) and during resisted supination (p = 0.53), as well as for muscle cramps (p = 0.09), VAS for pain (p = 0.12) and Popeye deformity (p = 0.18). There was more pain in resisted flexion in the tomydesis group (p = 0.032), and significantly better Constant scores and SSV (< 0.001) in the patients who underwent the double lasso loop technique, but non-repairable cuff tears were most frequent in the tomydesis group.

Conclusions

Tomydesis might be a reliable alternative that combines advantages of tenodesis and tenotomy. It should be considered in cases of rotator cuff tears, whose repair and healing are the key for good functional outcomes.

Level of evidence

II.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Pascal Garaud for statistical analysis and Joanne Archambault for English-language editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service d’Orthopédie 1C, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Tours, Avenue de la République, 37044, Tours, France

    Ramy Samargandi, Waleed Abduh, Luc Favard & Julien Berhouet

  2. Faculté de Médecine, Université de Tours, PRES Centre-Val de Loire Université, Tours, France

    Ramy Samargandi, Waleed Abduh, Luc Favard & Julien Berhouet

  3. Clinique de l’Alliance, 1 Boulevard Alfred Nobel, 37540, Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire, France

    Christophe Le Du

  4. Centre Hospitalier Privé Saint-Grégoire, 6 Boulevard de la Boutière, 35760, Saint-Grégoire, France

    Philippe Collin

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  1. Ramy Samargandi
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  2. Waleed Abduh
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  3. Luc Favard
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Correspondence to Julien Berhouet.

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Samargandi, R., Abduh, W., Favard, L. et al. “Tomydesis” might be a reliable technique for lesions of the long head of the biceps tendon associated with rotator cuff tears: a minimum 6-month prospective clinical follow-up study. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 30, 83–87 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-019-02525-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-019-02525-0

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