Abstract
HYPOTHESIS: Single-incision biceps tendon repair with an arthrotunneling device has previously been shown to be a safe and effective technique that provides the anatomic restoration of a two-incision approach and a reduced complication profile. This repair provides adequate and comparable fixation to repairs utilizing anchors, buttons, screws, etc., at a lower cost. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study utilized 10 cadaveric specimens. Native and repair specimens were cyclically loaded and graft displacement, flexion/extension (FE) and pronation/supination (PS) moment arms at 12.5° to 152.5° (in 5° increments) before and after repair, and maximum load to failure were measured. RESULTS: The FE and PS moment arms and overall maximum moment arms were both significantly larger in the repaired case than in the native case (p < 0.01). Moment arms for supinated specimens were significantly greater than neutral specimens, which in turn was greater than pronated specimens (p < 0.01). The maximum load up to 10 mm of repair displacement was 214.5.0 ± 66.6 N and the repair displacement due to 1000 cycles of 50 N was 2.56 ± 2.06 mm. CONCLUSION: The single-incision arthrotunneling technique is a safe and effective repair that recreates the anatomic footprint and biomechanics of the native biceps and has a reduced complication profile compared to a two-incision approach.