Biceps tenodesis versus labral repair for superior labrum anterior-to-posterior tears: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: This study systematically reviewed the comparative studies in the literature to ascertain whether biceps tenodesis or labral repair results in superior clinical outcomes in the treatment of superior labrum anterior-to-posterior (SLAP) tears.

Methods: A systematic search of articles in PubMed, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library databases was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Cohort studies of biceps tenodesis compared with labral repair of SLAP tears were included. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager software (The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen, Denmark). A P value of <.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results: Included were 5 studies with 234 patients. Biceps tenodesis resulted in improved rates of patient satisfaction (95.6% vs. 76.2%, P = .01) and rate of return to sport (81.3% vs, 64.3%, P = .02), compared with SLAP repair. Although the difference in reoperation rates was not statistically significant, there was a trend toward higher reoperation rates in patients treated with SLAP repair (14.2% vs 6.5%, P = .09). In addition, there was no difference in complication rates or functional outcomes.

Conclusion: Our study found that biceps tenodesis resulted in higher rates of patient satisfaction and return to sport in the studies published in the literature and that biceps tenodesis and SLAP repair resulted in similar functional outcome scores.

Keywords: Biceps; meta-analysis; repair; superior labral anterior-posterior; systematic review; tenodesis.