gms | German Medical Science

German Congress of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (DKOU 2021)

26. - 29.10.2021, Berlin

Systematic review of surgical results of chronic distal biceps ruptures

Meeting Abstract

  • presenting/speaker Maciej Simon - Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, University of British Columbia, Department of Orthopaedics, Hamburg, Vancouver, Germany
  • Arpun Bajwa - Gray's Harbor Medical Group, Aberdeen, WA, United States
  • Jordan Leith - Footbridge Clinic for Integrated Orthopaedic Care, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • Farhad Moola - Fraser Orthopaedic Institute, New Westminster, BC, Canada
  • Thomas Goetz - University of British Columbia, Department of Orthopaedics, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • Parth Lodhia - Fraser Orthopaedic Institute, New Westminster, BC, Canada

Deutscher Kongress für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie (DKOU 2021). Berlin, 26.-29.10.2021. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2021. DocAB36-305

doi: 10.3205/21dkou191, urn:nbn:de:0183-21dkou1914

Published: October 26, 2021

© 2021 Simon et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.


Outline

Text

Objectives: Distal biceps tendon tears can cause weakness and fatigue in activities requiring elbow flexion and supination. Surgical management of chronic tears is scarcely described in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine clinical outcomes of chronic distal biceps repairs and reconstructions.

Methods: A search of Medline (Pubmed + Ovid), EMBASE, CINAHL physical therapy, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Central Register, and PubMed Central from beginning of inception until September 29, 2020 was performed to identify all articles including chronic distal biceps ruptures. All studies with at least one outcome measure and ten patients with chronic distal biceps ruptures that were surgically treated were included in this systematic review. Outcomes assessing physical function and complications were reviewed.

Results: Fourteen studies were included after systematic database screenings. MINORS criteria scores ranged from 5 to 19. A total of 462 cases with chronic distal biceps tendon ruptures were included. Follow-up times ranged from four months to 11 years. Single-incision (n = 4) and two-incision (n = 2), or both (n = 6) surgical techniques were used in these studies. Two studies did not specify the surgical approach. Repairs used transosseous button fixation and suture anchor fixation methods. Four studies describe the use of autografts and 5 articles used allografts in the chronic repair. Range of motion outcomes were excellent when compared to the contralateral arm. Main postoperative complications were paresthesias, which were temporary in 70% of the cases.

Conclusion: Surgical management of chronic distal biceps ruptures demonstrate improvement and overall successful outcomes for pain and function. Although there may be a slightly higher immediate complication rate, specifically neuropraxia of the LABCN, the functional outcomes remain comparable to that seen in the acute distal biceps patient population.