Acute brachialis muscle rupture caused by closed elbow dislocation in a professional American football player

Abstract

Injury to the brachialis muscle is rare, with only several patients with isolated injury reported. 12 Nishida Y. Tsukushi S. Yamada Y. Hosono K. Ishiguro N. Brachialis muscle tear mimicking an intramuscular tumor: a report of two cases. J Hand Surg. 2007; 32: 1237-1241https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2007.06.002 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (20) Google Scholar , 14 Van den Berghe G.R. Queenan J.F. Murphy D.A. Isolated rupture of the brachialis: a case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2001; 83: 1074-1075 PubMed Google Scholar , 15 Wasserstein D. White L. Theodoropoulos J. Traumatic brachialis muscle injury by elbow hyperextension in a professional hockey player. Clin J Sport Med. 2010; 20: 211-212https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0b013e3181df1ed4 Crossref PubMed Scopus (10) Google Scholar The brachialis muscle is anatomically close to the anterior capsule and the joint of the elbow, placing the muscle at risk during elbow dislocation; however, this has never been described. In contrast, elbow dislocations have an incidence of approximately 6 per 100,000, making them the second most frequent dislocations encountered after shoulder dislocations. 6 Josefsson P.O. Nilsson B.E. The incidence of elbow dislocation. Acta Orthop Scand. 1986; 57: 537-538 Crossref PubMed Scopus (116) Google Scholar Most elbow dislocations affect young adults, often involved in a sports injury. 4 Hildebrand K.A. Patterson S.D. King G.J. Acute elbow dislocations: simple and complex. Orthop Clin. 1999; 30: 63-79 PubMed Google Scholar In most individuals, these injuries involve only the joint and carry a good prognosis after reduction, brief immobilization, and active rehabilitation. 5 Josefsson P.O. Gentz C.F. Johnell O. Wendeberg B. Surgical versus nonsurgical treatment of ligamentous injuries following dislocation of the elbow joint. A prospective randomized study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1987; 69: 605-608 PubMed Google Scholar , 10 Maripuri S.N. Debnath U.K. Rao P. Mohanty K. Simple elbow dislocation among adults: a comparative study of two different methods of treatment. Injury. 2007; 38: 1254-1258https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2007.02.040 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (77) Google Scholar , 11 Mehlhoff T.L. Noble P.C. Benett J.B. Tullos H.S. Simple dislocation of the elbow in the adult. Results after closed treatment. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1988; 70: 244-249 PubMed Google Scholar , 13 Ross G. MacDevitt E.R. Chronister R. Ove P.N. Treatment of simple elbow dislocation using an immediate motion protocol. Am J Sports Med. 1999; 27: 308-311 PubMed Google Scholar Most of the current studies emphasize the indications and outcomes of repairing the ligaments or in restoring motion of the elbow joint. We report a brachialis muscle rupture associated with closed elbow dislocation and the results of surgical repair in a high-demand professional athlete.