CASE: We report 2 cases of brachial plexus injury after open subpectoral biceps tenodesis. In 1 patient, the nerves likely sustained a stretch injury related to retractor use. In the other patient, multiple nerves were severed, and we hypothesize that they were caught in a drill bit. CONCLUSIONS: To decrease the risk of nerve injury due to traction or inadvertent wrapping of nerves in the drill bit or tenodesis screw, we recommend careful retractor use and tendon fixation techniques that use a protective sleeve during both drilling and fixation.
CASE: We report 2 cases of brachial plexus injury after open subpectoral biceps tenodesis. In 1 patient, the nerves likely sustained a stretch injury related to retractor use. In the other patient, multiple nerves were severed, and we hypothesize that they were caught in a drill bit. CONCLUSIONS: To decrease the risk of nerve injury due to traction or inadvertent wrapping of nerves in the drill bit or tenodesis screw, we recommend careful retractor use and tendon fixation techniques that use a protective sleeve during both drilling and fixation.