BicepBrace biceps tendon augmentation improves outcomes one year following surgery.

Purpose: This study emphasizes the clinical utility of our newly published "BicepBrace" technique by comparing its preliminary outcomes with standard treatment within the short term follow-up of 12 months following massive rotator cuff repair surgery.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of all the rotator cuff repairs by E.H.A. over a two year span was completed under institutional review board approval. Inclusion criteria included all adult patients who received primary massive rotator cuff repair within the time frame of June 15, 2021 and June 15, 2023. Exclusion criteria included non-massive rotator cuff repair, revision surgery, or rotator cuff repairs that were paired with total shoulder arthroplasty. These massive rotator cuff repairs were then evaluated for clinical failure necessitating revision surgery within 12 months of original repair. Statistical analyses were performed using t tests and chi square tests.

Results: In total, 102 rotator cuff repairs were identified within the study timeframe. In total, 24 of these cases met criteria to be labeled as massive tears. In total, 13 of these massive tears were treated by standard technique and 11 of them were treated with our BicepBrace biceps tendon transfer technique. In total, 4 of the patients in the standard technique group were deemed clinical failures necessitating revision surgery (failure rate of 30.8%). Only one of the BicepBrace patients were deemed clinical failures (failure rate of 9.1%).

Conclusion: In the setting of a massive rotator cuff tear, the BicepBrace technique-utilizing the long head of the biceps tendon for superior cuff augmentation-may enhance the survivability of the repair within one year of surgery. This relatively new approach offers a promising alternative to standard techniques, particularly for certain patient populations.