[Results of the surgical therapy of distal biceps tendon rupture]

The rupture of the distal tendon of the biceps brachii is a relatively uncommon but severe injury of the upper extremity. Different techniques for surgical reattachment are described with a small number of patients. The purpose of this study was to show whether the surgical technique modified after Max Lange leads to good clinical results in the number of eleven patients who underwent physical examination between six months and eight years after surgical repair. Three patients showed a small deficit in the range of motion. Six patients had ossifications in the distal tendon, no patient had an osteoarthritis of the elbow. Strength and endurance, tested by the Cybex-II isokinetic dynamometer, showed no significant difference between operated and healthy extremity. The surgical technique modified after Max Lange is a safe and effective way for reattaching the distal tendon of the biceps brachii.