title: Primary repair of retracted distal biceps tendon ruptures in extreme flexion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Distal biceps tendon ruptures may have tendinous retraction, making primary repair difficult and calling into question the need for graft reconstruction. The decision for when to primarily fix or augment high-flexion repairs has not been addressed. We hypothesized high-flexion repairs would have good outcomes without graft augmentation. The purpose of this study was to examine allograft use and outcomes of distal biceps tendon ruptures requiring repair in greater than 60° of flexion.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective case-control study 188 distal biceps tendon repairs; of these, 19 chronic and 4 acute cases were identified with repairs of >60° of flexion using a 2-incision technique. Graft need, complications, and Mayo Elbow Performance Score to assess function, were examined with a record review. Patients were surveyed regarding return to work and subjective satisfaction. A control group matched for surgeon, chronicity, and age, but without a high-flexion repair, was compared with cases by using the Student paired t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Graft augmentation was used in 1 patient with poor tendon quality. The Mayo Elbow Performance Score was 100 for all 23 patients, with extension/flexion range of motion from 3° to 138°. All were subjectively "very satisfied/satisfied," with full work return, yet 3 reported mild fatigability. There were 4 complications: 3 transient lateral antebrachial cutaneous neurapraxias and 1 rerupture at the myotendinous junction after retrauma. Differences between cases and controls were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contracted distal biceps tendons may be reliably reattached to their anatomic insertion with up to 90° of elbow flexion. This lessens the need for reconstruction in such circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Morrey
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Abdel
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Joaquin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Sotelo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address: morrey.bernard@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Bernard F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Morrey
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000637:transplantation; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004550:Elbow / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D000092464:Elbow Injuries
keywords: Distal biceps tendon repair; allograft reconstruction; chronic biceps rupture; high-flexion repair; outcomes; tendon retraction