Early Postoperative Complications Following Partial Distal Biceps Tendon Surgical Repair.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Sports medicine
• Musculoskeletal research

Background:

• Partial distal biceps tendon (PDBT) tears are increasingly recognized.
• Data on the early complication rates following operative PDBT repair are limited.
• Understanding complication profiles is crucial for patient counseling and surgical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the early complication rate after surgical repair of PDBT tears.
• To identify the types and severity of early complications.
• To compare complication rates between single-incision and two-incision surgical techniques.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 112 patients undergoing PDBT repair over a 6-year period.
• Analysis of surgical approach (single vs. two-incision), demographics, and complications.
• Complications classified as major if reoperation was needed within 12 weeks.

Main Results:

• An overall early complication rate of 20.5% was observed in 112 patients.
• The majority of complications (82.6%) were minor, primarily sensory nerve symptoms.
• Four major complications occurred, including two reruptures, one vascular injury, and one deep infection.

Conclusions:

• The early complication rate following PDBT repair is significant but largely consists of minor, self-limiting issues.
• While sensory nerve symptoms were more common with the single-incision technique, overall major complication rates were low.
• Most minor complications resolved without further surgical intervention.