Distal biceps reconstruction 13 years post-injury

Abstract

Distal biceps tendon ruptures are relatively rare injuries most commonly caused by an eccentric contraction of the biceps brachii. The majority of complete ruptures receive early surgical intervention, however, some patients do present in a delayed fashion. There are many surgical options at this time for acute and chronic injuries, and this case report describes an Achilles allograft reconstruction in a male who sustained a complete tear 13 years prior to presentation. At 12-month follow up, he had regained full function of his dominant extremity as evidence by returning to work with no limitations and by a Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score of zero. We are unaware of a successfully surgically reconstructed distal biceps tendon of this chronicity. As the literature on this subject is sparse, this case report gives credence to the idea that certain patients with a chronic distal biceps rupture should be considered for operative reconstruction and not relegated to continued failed conservative treatment. Discussed are the surgical treatment options and controversies for chronic distal biceps ruptures, and we review various outcome studies using different surgical techniques.