Unrecognized Distal Biceps Rupture Associated with Brachial Plexus Injury: A Report of 2 Cases
Courtney R Carlson Strother1, Christopher S Crowe1, Ellen Y Lee1
1Division of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Case:
An upper trunk brachial plexus injury patient underwent ulnar motor fascicular to biceps motor nerve transfer. At 6 months postoperative, the patient had trace biceps firing but was diagnosed with an unrecognized rupture of the distal biceps tendon, requiring reconstruction. Another patient with C5-T1 injury was noted to have distal biceps tendon rupture at the time of gracilis muscle transfer. Both patients had gravity-assisted elbow flexion at 1-year follow-up.
Conclusion:
Biceps rupture is an uncommon concomitant injury with brachial plexus trauma and challenging to diagnose in the context of a paretic limb. Thorough history and intraoperative biceps tendon palpation will ensure these injuries are identified.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Arteries of the Upper Limbs
Spinal Nerves: Plexus I
The Cervical Plexus
The cervical plexus, formed by the anterior rami of the first four...
Muscles that Move the Forearm
Forearm Flexors
The biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis are forearm flexors. The biceps brachii is made up of two heads. Its long head originates at the supraglenoid tubercle of the scapula, whereas that of the short head is...
Bones of the Upper Limb: Radius
The radius has a nail-shaped head, and a...
Bones of the Upper Limb: Ulna
Bones of the Upper Limb: Humerus


