title: Outcomes and complications of triceps tendon repair following acute rupture in American military personnel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Triceps tendon ruptures are uncommon injuries primarily occurring in young, active males or elderly individuals with various systemic diseases. Relatively little is known about the epidemiology of this injury, or the results of surgical management in high-demand populations. The purpose of this study was to define the incidence and outcomes of surgical treatment in active duty American military personnel.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Military Data Repository (MDR) was queried for all active duty military personnel undergoing surgical repair or reconstruction of a triceps tendon rupture between January 2012 and December 2014. The electronic health records of all patients with at least 12 months clinical follow-up were searched for demographic information, injury details, preoperative imaging findings, post-operative complications, and ability to return to duty following surgical repair. Incidence was calculated based on total active duty population in the MDR over the study period. Risk factors for postoperative complication and inability to return to duty following surgical repair were assessed using univariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 54 acute triceps tendon ruptures were identified in the search, of which 48 had at least 12 months follow-up and complete post-operative records. The incidence of acute triceps tendon rupture was 1.1 per 100,000 person-years. Twelve patients experienced post-operative complications, six of which were traumatic re-ruptures within four months of the index surgery. No patient had a post-operative infection or atraumatic repair failure. 94% of patients were able to return to active military service following surgical repair. Enlisted rank was a significant risk factor for a post-operative complication, but no factor predicted inability to return to active duty service.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical repair of acute triceps tendon ruptures reliably restores strength and function even in high-demand individuals. In our population, traumatic rerupture was the most common complication.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, United StatesThe views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army/Navy/Air Force, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government.. Electronic address: gcbalazs@gmail.com.
authors: George C
authors: GC
authors: Balazs
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, United StatesThe views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army/Navy/Air Force, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government.. Electronic address: abrelin@gmail.com.
authors: Alaina M
authors: AM
authors: Brelin
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, United StatesThe views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army/Navy/Air Force, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government.. Electronic address: theodora.dworak@gmail.com.
authors: Theodora C
authors: TC
authors: Dworak
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, United StatesThe views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army/Navy/Air Force, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government.. Electronic address: daniel.i.brooks3.ctr@mail.mil.
authors: Daniel I
authors: DI
authors: Brooks
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, United StatesThe views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army/Navy/Air Force, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government.. Electronic address: timothy.c.mauntel.civ@mail.mil.
authors: Timothy C
authors: TC
authors: Mauntel
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, United StatesThe views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army/Navy/Air Force, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government.. Electronic address: scott.tintle@gmail.com.
authors: Scott M
authors: SM
authors: Tintle
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, United StatesThe views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army/Navy/Air Force, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government.. Electronic address: jon.f.dickens@gmail.com.
authors: Jonathan F
authors: JF
authors: Dickens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062707:Return to Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012421:Rupture / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Military; Surgical repair; Triceps tendon rupture