Sports Medicine Oregon

What To Expect From Bicep Tenodesis Surgical Repair

By Sports Medicine Oregon

The procedure

You are having a bicep tenodesis. Bicep tenodesis is surgical repair of an injured or degenerative tendon through the use of screws and suture. The repair will be done with a combination of arthroscopic portals (small incisions) to look inside the shoulder and a small open incision to repair and reattach the healthy part of the tendon.

There are some cases in which the tendon can not be repaired and is released. If this is necessary it will leave an asymmetry in your bicep muscle but will relieve the pain once it heals.

Your surgery will take approximately one to two hours. You will wake up in the recovery room where your progress will be observed for one to two hours. Your family or friends may visit you here.

Preparing for Surgery

You should not have anything to eat or drink eight hours prior to your surgery. All medications should be discussed before your surgery takes place. Most medications can be taken the day of surgery, following the procedure.

If you are diabetic, or have any other concerns about medications, please discuss this with the surgeon as special arrangements may be necessary. The anesthesiologist will try to speak with you the night before to discuss anesthesia.

Should this call be missed, you will speak to the anesthesiologist at the bedside before your procedure begins. Please wear loose clothing.

Please have the correct date, time and location of your surgery confirmed before the date. You will need someone to drive you home and accompany you for the next 24 hours.

After Surgery

You will have a sling in place that will secure and limit the activity of your arm. You may wear this over a t-shirt for more comfort. You also may remove the sling and move your elbow, wrist and fingers but no lifting of objects or your arm.

You will also have a cold pack that is attached to a cooling unit which you may use according to your tolerance. Please be aware of the skin beneath the cooling pad and protect it with a small cloth or towel to avoid burning or other skin irritation.

You will have a pain pump. This is a small handheld device filled with numbing medicine that is attached to a catheter that your surgeon placed in the shoulder at the time of surgery.

You should depress the button every four to six hours to control pain. You must remove this catheter from your shoulder 48 hours after surgery.

To do this, lift up the bandages and the clear tape securing the catheter. Gently pull the catheter until it is removed from the skin and discard the entire device in the trash. Some drainage from the pump site is normal.

Apply pressure for a few minutes and then cover the site with a band-aid. After removal of the pain pump, you may shower. No bathing, soaking or swimming until the incisions are completely healed (14 days).

You will have a scheduled post-operative visit in a week to 10 days following your procedure. At that time, the surgeon will meet with you and discuss your surgery findings, pertinent information, future prognosis and rehabilitation plan. We will also give you recommendations regarding activity and limitations.

Usually, we will check your progress once every month.

You are encouraged to call our office with any questions that you may have after the procedure.

You should call immediately should you develop a temperature greater than 101 ºF, numbness or tingling in the operative arm, excessive drainage or excessive bleeding from the incisions, nausea or vomiting, uncontrolled pain or any other symptoms that you have concerns about.

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