gms | German Medical Science

14th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT)

17.06. - 21.06.2019, Berlin

Reinsertion of distal biceps tendon through a mini invasive anterior approach: our experience

Meeting Abstract

Search Medline for

  • Massimo Massarella - Villa Stuart Sport Clinic, Rome, Italy
  • presenting/speaker Eleonora Piccirilli - Villa Stuart Sport Clinic, Rome, Italy

International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand. International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy. 14th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT). Berlin, 17.-21.06.2019. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2020. DocIFSSH19-1739

doi: 10.3205/19ifssh0080, urn:nbn:de:0183-19ifssh00805

Published: February 6, 2020

© 2020 Massarella 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/Interrogation: Distal ruptures of the biceps often occur in men during eccentric contraction of the biceps or after overload with flexed elbow. Usually, surgical treatment is the best choice. The aim of our work is to evaluate the mid term results of a mini invasive anterior approach for the reinsertion of distal biceps tendon using a resorbable anchor.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on prospectively collected data from 15 patients treated for total distal biceps tendon rupture in 15 months from 2017 to 2018. We included all male patients, mean age 40 years (35-55) who underwent distal biceps tendon rupture after sport injuries. Clinical and radiological diagnosis was made through Magnetic Resonance performed a few days after the trauma. The tendon was anatomically repaired through a single anterior mini open approach (Figure 1 [Fig. 1]).

(2.5 cm incision) using a reassorbable anchor (2.9 mm) inserted into the biceps radial tuberosity (Figure 2 [Fig. 2]).

After the surgical procedure, elbow brace set at 90° flexion was mantained for two weeks, then rehabilitation started. The average follow-up of our study was 12 months.

Results and Conclusions: 12 months after the surgical procedure, patients satisfaction was good. The mini invasive anterior approach has a minimal aesthetic impact and it allows a good functional outcome, without nerve damage or infections. We reported a single case of fibrotic scar. On a functional point of view, the anchored tendon allows the complete range of motion of the elbow after five weeks. In four months patients were completely back to their previous sport activities. In our experience, this surgical procedure is a valid option with a very low rate of complications.