Differences in Rupture Patterns and Associated Lesions Related to Traumatic Distal Triceps Tendon Rupture Between Outstretched Hand and Direct Injuries

Distal Triceps Rupture with an Injury of the Medial Ulnar Collateral Ligament: a Result of a Fall Onto an Outstretched Arm - a Case Series

Traumatic triceps tendon ruptures are rare and known to result in substantial disability unless appropriate surgical treatment is performed. A traumatic rupture can occur due to a fall onto the outstretched hand. Tearing of the triceps tendon results in a valgus load onto the elbow, which can lead to injuries to the radial head/neck and/or the ulnar collateral ligament. Hence, attention must be paid to associated pathologies after diagnosis of rupture to the distal triceps tendon. Our surgical procedure in these cases includes diagnostic arthroscopy to detect concomitant injuries. In the following, we present three cases where we performed an open suture bridge repair of the triceps tendon followed by suture repair of the ulnar collateral ligament. All patients recovered well and reported no elbow pain or limited range of motion. The ASES and Mayo Elbow Performance scores were 100 at the 1-year follow-up.

Partial ruptures of the distal triceps tendons show only slightly lower ultimate load to failure: a biomechanical study

OBJECTIVE

Partial ruptures of the distal triceps tendon are usually treated surgically from a size of > 50% tendon involvement. The aim of this study was to compare the ultimate load to failure of intact triceps tendons with partially ruptured tendons and describe the rupture mechanism.

METHODS

Eighteen human fresh-frozen cadaveric elbow specimens were randomly assigned to two groups with either an intact distal triceps tendon or with a simulated partial rupture of 50% of the tendon. A continuous traction on the distal triceps tendon was applied to provoke a complete tendon rupture. The maximum required ultimate load to failure of the tendon in N was measured. In addition, video recordings of the ruptures of the intact tendons were performed and analysed by two independent investigators.

RESULTS

A median ultimate load to failure of 1,390 N (range Q_0.25-Q_0.75, 954 - 2,360) was measured in intact distal triceps tendons. The median ultimate load to failure of the partially ruptured tendons was 1,330 N (range Q_0.25-Q_0.75, 1,130 - 1.470 N). The differences were not significant. All recorded ruptures began in the superficial tendon portion, and seven out of nine tendons in the lateral tendon portion.

DISCUSSION

Partial ruptures of the distal triceps tendon demonstrate a not statistically significant lower ultimate load to failure than intact tendons and typically occur in the superficial, lateral portion of the tendon. This finding can be helpful when deciding between surgical and conservative therapy for partial ruptures of the distal triceps tendon.

Biceps, Brachialis, and Triceps

Tendon injuries at the elbow affect mostly the distal biceps and can progressively degenerate over time or rupture in an acute event. The degree of retraction may depend on the integrity of the lacertus fibrosus, a fibrous expansion that merges with the forearm flexor fascia. Biceps disorders are frequently associated with fluid or synovitis of the adjacent bicipital bursa; primary bursal disorders (primary inflammatory synovitis) can also be observed. Distal triceps is less frequently injured than the distal biceps, and tears usually manifest as distal ruptures with avulsion of a small flake of bone from the tip of the olecranon. Brachialis injuries are uncommon and the consequence of sudden muscle stretching during forced elbow hyperextension, as in posterior elbow luxation.