Distal Triceps Tendon Injury

Triceps tendon ruptures typically result from a forceful elbow eccentric contraction. The goal of a distal triceps tendon repair is to reattach the torn tendon back to the olecranon. Surgery is indicated for patients with complete rupture of the triceps tendon or symptomatic partial tears with failed conservative management. The complication rate occurs in 22% of patients postoperatively; however, only 0% to 4% of patients suffer a re-rupture of the tendon.

We present a case of a highly active 38-year-old right-hand dominant man with acute onset of left posterior elbow pain following 1-handed pushup resulting in a complete distal triceps avulsion with 1.5 cm retraction.

The distal triceps avulsion was repaired in a double row fashion using 2 double-loaded all-suture anchors in the medial row and anchor in the lateral row through a posterior approach.

Full anatomic footprint coverage was able to be achieved intraoperatively, and gentle range of motion from 0 to 90 degrees of flexion did not result in gap formation.

Successful outcomes with full anatomic footprint coverage of the distal triceps tendon can be achieved through a double row repair configuration.