Minimal clinically important differences after subpectoral biceps tenodesis: definition and retrospective assessment of predictive factors

Background: Minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) at 1 year after subpectoral biceps tenodesis are unknown for the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scale, Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain. Our objectives were to determine MCIDs for these measures at 1 year after biceps tenodesis and to identify preoperative factors that predict attainment of MCIDs. Methods: We included 52 patients who underwent arthroscopic débridement, decompression, and mini-open biceps tenodesis from 2016–2018. We analyzed age, sex, body mass index value, arm dominance, diagnosis, range of shoulder motion, and preoperative and 1-year postoperative ASES, SSV, and VAS scores. MCIDs were calculated using a distribution-based method of one-half the standard deviation. Preoperative thresholds predictive of MCIDs were calculated with univariate logistic regression. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine factors that predict MCIDs. Significance was set at a 2-tailed P value of <.05. Results: MCIDs for the ASES, SSV, and VAS were 13, 12, and 1.6 points, respectively. Preoperative ASES score <59 predicted MCID on the ASES (P = .03); VAS score >3 predicted MCID on the VAS (P < .01); external shoulder rotation >40° predicted MCID on the SSV (P = .02); and age >41 years predicted MCID on the VAS (P = .02). Conclusion: At 1 year after débridement, decompression, and biceps tenodesis, MCIDs were 13, 12, and 1.6 points for the ASES, SSV, and VAS, respectively. Patients most likely to attain MCIDs were those aged >41 years, those with the most preoperative pain, and those with the poorest preoperative shoulder function.