Distal biceps brachii tendon rupture: what do we do with these?

Abstract

Treatment options for distal biceps tendon ruptures are vast, including conservative treatment and many techniques for surgical repair. Surgical repair of distal biceps ruptures is indicated in patients wanting to restore supination strength and endurance. In most cases, direct anatomic repair is indicated, with the two-incision technique modified by Morrey considered the standard. Superior outcomes of surgical repair compared with conservative treatment have been well established. Most contemporary techniques focus on the single-incision approach with types of fixation including suture anchors, cortical buttons and interference screws. Recent literature has focused on descriptions of new techniques along with biomechanical comparisons of these options. Of the one-incision approaches, it is not yet clear which technique is superior. This review provides a discussion of all the most recent data and gives our algorithm for treatment of this injury.