Abstract: BACKGROUND: Transposition of the long head of biceps tendon is a commonly surgical method for massive rotator cuff tears. Currently, there are a few reports on the clinical efficacy of the transposition of the long head of biceps tendon and there is no consensus on the influencing factors for retearing.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the outcome of arthroscopic long head of the biceps tendon in the treatment of massive rotator cuff tear.
METHODS: The clinical data of 28 patients with massive rotator cuff tears, aged (61.79±10.50) years, admitted at Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine from March 2019 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent arthroscopic long head of the biceps tendon. Patients were assessed for visual analog scale scores, University of California at Los Angeles scores, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores, Constant-Murley scores, and shoulder range of motion before and 1 year after operation. MRI of the shoulder joint was performed for observing the integrity of the repaired structure at 1 year after operation. Twenty-three patients (5 of 28 lost to follow-up) were categorized into the intact tendon group (n=18) and the tendon retear group (n=5) according to the Sugaya typing at 1 year after operation; the patients were divided into the normal group (n=8), the degeneration group (n=9), and the partial tear group (n=6) according to the intraoperative quality of the long head of the biceps tendon. Differences in the above indexes were compared between groups. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: When followed up at 1 year after surgery, the range of motion, visual analog scale scores, University of California at Los Angeles scores, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores, Constant-Murley scores of the shoulder were significantly improved compared with preoperative data (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in Goutellier grading between intact tendon and tendon retear groups (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was observed in the other influencing factors (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in visual analog scale scores, University of California at Los Angeles scores, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores, Constant-Murley scores, and shoulder range of motion at 1 year after operation among the normal, degeneration, and partial tear groups (P > 0.05). MRI findings indicated that the sutured tendon healed well in 18 patients, with a healing rate of 78%. Arthroscopic long head of the biceps tendon for augmented repair can provide a reliable repair for massive rotator cuff tear that is refractory, significantly alleviate the pain of the shoulder joint, and restore the function of the shoulder joint.

Key words: arthroscopy, massive rotator cuff tear, transposition of the long head of the biceps tendon, augmented repair, influencing factors