Distal biceps tendon rupture: diagnostic strength of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance

The main purpose of this study is to determine the agreement between two radiological tests, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance, in the diagnosis of distal brachial biceps tendon injury.

A retrospective study was made of patients over 3 years who underwent distal brachial biceps tendon reattachment open surgery, and whose preoperative diagnosis was complemented either by ultrasonography, by magnetic resonance or both. The agreement was calculated by Cohen's kappa coefficient (k).

Information of 79 patients was analyzed. The concordance was excellent between resonance and surgical findings (k=.950), and a good Cohen's kappa coefficient was also achieved between both ultrasonography and surgery (k=.706) and between information of sonography and magnetic resonance (k=.667).

Resonance and ultrasonography could be considered reliable diagnostic tests to determine the acute rupture of the distal brachial biceps tendon in patients with consistent aetiology and physical examination.