Fifty-four shoulders in fifty-one patients were followed for an average
of thirteen years (range, two to twenty-three years) after surgical
tenodesis of the long head of the biceps brachii for the treatment of
chronic tendinitis. At an average of six months postoperatively, in all but
three shoulders (forty-eight patients) some benefit was evident. However,
after a longer follow-up, a satisfactory result was achieved in only
twenty-eight shoulders (approximately 50 per cent). About one-third of the
shoulders continued to be pain-free, and in eight shoulders (15 per cent)
an additional operation was performed. Tenodesis of the long head of the
biceps tendon, therefore, was not an effective treatment for tendinitis
over the long term.