Subpectoral biceps tenodesis for failed type II SLAP repair

Superior labrum anterior-posterior lesions are a common cause of shoulder pain. The diagnosis, classification, and indications for surgical intervention remain controversial, and mixed outcomes are associated with primary repair. Given the increasing prevalence of primary superior labrum anterior-posterior repairs in the United States, more surgeons will need to treat patients with poor primary results. A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was performed on patients who underwent subpectoral biceps tenodesis for failed type II superior labrum anterior-posterior repair by a single surgeon between January 2008 and December 2011. Primary outcome variables included pain via the visual analog scale, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and Short Form 12 score. Secondary outcome variables included the Simple Shoulder Test and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores. Demographic and intraoperative information was recorded for each patient. A paired t test statistical analysis was performed with a P value less than .05 considered statistically significant. A total of 11 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 9 (82%) completed postoperative surveys at a mean 26-month follow-up. Mean visual analog scale scores improved from 4.1 to 2.5 (P=.03), Simple Shoulder Test scores from 5.4 to 9.3 (P=.005), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores from 54.5 to 78.0 (P=.002), and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores from 42.5 to 70.4 (P=.001). Mean SF-12 (physical component) improved from 35.5 to 47.9 (P=.018). No failures or peri- or postoperative complications occurred. No patients required additional surgery. The findings suggest that subpectoral biceps tenodesis as a salvage for failed type II superior labrum anterior-posterior repair demonstrates improved results. Larger scale comparative studies are required to justify this technique.