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Complications of Distal Biceps Tendon Repair

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The Management of Biceps Pathology

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Abstract

Distal biceps tendon ruptures are relatively uncommon injuries which tend to affect the dominant arm of males in their 40s. Surgical management is necessary to restore elbow flexion and forearm supination strength and endurance. There are currently two general approaches to distal biceps tendon repair: a single-incision anterior approach or a two-incision technique which utilizes both a small anterior incision and a posterolateral incision. Both approaches have different potential advantages and complication profiles, with currently no consensus among experts regarding the ideal approach. The overall complication rates following distal biceps repair typically range from 15% to 35%. In general, a single-incision anterior approach has been associated with higher overall complications, most of which are transient neuropraxias, whereas the two-incision approach tends to be more commonly associated with increased rates of heterotopic ossification. Rerupture and major complications are relatively low regardless of technique. A thorough understanding of the advantages and disadvantages coupled with the unique complication profile of each approach is necessary for surgeons performing distal biceps repair.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Rothman Institute-Thomas Jefferson, Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery & Shoulder/Elbow Surgery, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Jacob M. Kirsch & Matthew L. Ramsey

  2. Sidney Kimmel College of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, The Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Matthew L. Ramsey

Authors
  1. Jacob M. Kirsch
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Correspondence to Matthew L. Ramsey .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Sports Medicine, DuPage Medical Group, DuPage, IL, USA

    Anthony A. Romeo

  2. Division of Sports Medicine, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, New York, NY, USA

    Brandon J. Erickson

  3. Eastern Virginia Medical School Surgery & Sports Medicine Jordan-Young Institute for Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine, Virginia Beach, VA, USA

    Justin W. Griffin

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Kirsch, J.M., Ramsey, M.L. (2021). Complications of Distal Biceps Tendon Repair. In: Romeo, A.A., Erickson, B.J., Griffin, J.W. (eds) The Management of Biceps Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63019-5_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63019-5_24

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-63019-5

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