Primary Repair of Chronic Distal Biceps Tendon Tears

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Hand Surgery

Background:

• Distal biceps tendon ruptures are common injuries.
• Delayed surgical repair (≥6 weeks) presents unique challenges.
• Clinical outcomes of chronic distal biceps tendon tears require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical results of primary repair for distal biceps tendon ruptures occurring more than 6 weeks after injury.
• To assess patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and range of motion (ROM) following delayed repair.
• To identify potential complications associated with delayed surgical intervention for distal biceps tendon tears.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 30 patients undergoing primary distal biceps tendon repair ≥6 weeks post-injury.
• Data collection included complications, ROM, and patient-reported outcomes (QuickDASH, PREE).
• Final PROMs were obtained from 21 patients with an average follow-up of 31.3 months.

Main Results:

• Average time from injury to repair was 71 days.
• Excellent PROMs were reported, with average QuickDASH score of 6.6 and PREE score of 7.8.
• Postoperative ROM averaged 1° to 138° (flexion/extension) and 76° to 77° (pronation/supination).
• A high complication rate of 47% was observed, including neuropraxia and re-ruptures.

Conclusions:

• Primary repair of chronic distal biceps tendon tears (≥6 weeks) yields excellent patient-reported outcomes and elbow range of motion.
• The complication rate in delayed repairs may be higher than in early repairs.
• Delayed surgical treatment is a viable option, but potential complications should be considered.