Ruptured Distal Biceps In Military Personnel

Abstract

Early operative repair is the currently accepted treatment of distal biceps rupture. However, we describe 6 patients (with 7 ruptures), 5 of whom are in the armed forces with distal biceps tendon ruptures who, as a result of delays in presentation, were treated non-operatively. The subsequent clinical success of these patients (with three excellent, three good and one poor result), has led us to question whether the role of non-operative treatment has been underestimated within the orthopaedic, military and sports medicine literature. The more rapid rehabilitation of conservatively treated ruptures may well have implications for treatment of armed forces personnel.

Bilateral ruptures of the distal biceps brachii tendon

“…6,7,10,21,27,28,39 Our results are consistent with the findings of previous authors. 7,11,21,22,24,28,31 Most of the patients were middleaged men, with higher body mass indices than average and a higher representation of nicotine users than the general population.…”