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Superior labral anterior-posterior lesions in rock climbers—primary double tenodesis?
Volker Schöffl1, Dominik Popp, Jörg Dickschass
1Sportorthopedics-Sporttraumatologie, and Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Klinikum Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany; Department for Trauma Surgery, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. volker.schoeffl@sozialstiftung-bamberg.de
Objective:
Shoulder problems, especially SLAP (superior labral anterior-posterior) lesions, are frequent in rock climbers. Although various SLAP repair methods demonstrate 75% to 97% good functional outcomes in general population, the results in overhead athletes are inconsistent and the question whether a primary tenodesis is more efficient arises.
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Setting:
The patients were treated as inpatient surgical patients, and the follow-up was performed after 6 months and 2 years.
Patients:
Six high-level rock climbers with SLAP lesions and degeneration of the long biceps tendon anchor or additional pulley lesions were surgically treated with primary tenodesis.
Interventions:
Primary tenodesis was performed for SLAP lesions in high-level climbers.
Main Outcome Measures:
The postoperative outcome was assessed through physical examination after 6 months and 2 years, Constant-Murley score, re-establishment of initial climbing ability level, and self-perception of the function of the shoulder and climbing ability.
Results:
All climbers regained their initial climbing level after 6 months. The Constant-Murley score (mean, 97.3%) showed an excellent functional outcome. The self-perception of the shoulder function and climbing ability was 96.8% of normal.
Conclusions:
The primary biceps tenodesis is proved to be a reliable alternative to arthroscopic SLAP repair in overhead athletes, especially if constant microtrauma persists.