The All-Inside Arthroscopic Loop Tenodesis Procedure to Treat Long Head of Biceps Tendon Pathologies

Abstract

A variety of techniques are available to treat pathologies of the long head of the biceps tendon. Next to a simple tenotomy and different tenodesis techniques, the loop tenodesis procedure was recently introduced. This technique represents an arthroscopically assisted surgical method for the treatment of biceps tendon disease. This procedure is based on an enlargement of the proximal tenotomized tendon to create a stable fixed tendon without foreign material to prevent distalization of the biceps muscle. This article describes an all-inside arthroscopic loop tenodesis procedure. By use of a special stitch configuration, the long head of the biceps tendon loop can be created in an all-arthroscopic manner, resulting in a stable fixed tendon at the entrance to the bicipital groove (autotenodesis). No foreign materials and only 2 arthroscopic portals are necessary for this biceps tenodesis procedure.