Partial triceps disruption: a case report.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Partial triceps tendon disruptions are uncommon but can cause significant disability.
• A high index of suspicion is warranted with mechanisms like falls onto an outstretched arm, presenting with elbow extension weakness, pain, and swelling.
• The tendon-osseous junction is the most frequent site for these ruptures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of partial triceps tendon disruption involving the medial head and superficial expansion.
• To highlight the diagnostic challenges and imaging modalities for triceps tendon injuries.
• To emphasize the importance of comprehensive patient assessment for treatment planning.

Main Methods:

• Case report detailing a patient with a partial triceps tendon tear.
• Physical examination assessing resisted elbow extension.
• Radiographic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) evaluation of the elbow.
• Surgical exploration to determine the extent of tendon involvement.

Main Results:

• Physical examination revealed weakness in resisted elbow extension, particularly with the elbow flexed beyond 90 degrees.
• Radiographs showed a small bone fragment near the olecranon, underestimating the actual injury severity.
• Surgical exploration confirmed a partial triceps tendon disruption, primarily affecting the medial head and superficial expansion.

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis of partial triceps tendon tears requires a high clinical suspicion and advanced imaging, primarily MRI.
• While MRI is valuable for assessing tendon involvement and associated pathology, it may underestimate tear size.
• Treatment decisions should integrate imaging findings with patient comorbidities and characteristics for optimal outcomes.