Irreparable distal biceps tendon tears typically are treated using a free tendon graft. We asked whether our new method to
fix the graft—using two suture anchors—yields similar results to our previous bone canal method. We compared the two methods
for strength, endurance, and clinical findings. There were two groups, the suture anchor group (Group A, seven patients) and
the bone canal group operated on before suture anchors (Group B, seven patients). The patients were males with a mean age
at surgery of 44.9 years. The operative delay from primary trauma to index surgery averaged 5.9 months. The minimum followup
was 2 years (mean, 11.1 years; range, 2–23 years). The mean arc of elbow motion was 0° to 132°, pronation 83°, and supination
80°. Compared with the contralateral side, the maximal peak torque was 84% in supination and 91% in pronation, and the maximal
static elbow flexion strength was 94%. The Mayo elbow score averaged 99 in Group A and 100 in Group B. There were no major
differences between the two groups. Our novel modification to fix a tendon graft yields equal clinical outcomes compared with
the bone canal method for treatment of irreparable distal biceps tendon injuries.
Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest,
patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.
Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations
were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study
was obtained.