Results of Anatomical Repair of the Distal Biceps via an Implant-Free Anterior Approach
Abstract
Introduction: There are numerous approaches for treating distal biceps injuries, each with varying success rates and associated complications. We describe an implant-free technique for anatomical reinsertion of the distal biceps through an anterior incision and report the clinical and functional outcomes. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 11 patients who underwent this surgical technique for the repair of their distal biceps injuries. The mean age was 43.8 years, and all patients weremale. Demographic data were collected, as well as clinical and functional outcomes more than one year after surgery. Results: At the final assessment, no mobility deficits were found. All patients returned to their pre-injury work and sports activities. The mean residual pain score on the Visual Analog Scale was 0.22. The average QuickDASH score one year after surgery was 6.38. There were 3 cases with complications: 2 transient neuropraxias of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve and one surgical wound infection. Conclusions: Our results with this technique for repairing distal biceps injuries are comparable to those obtained using implant-based techniques. Recovery was satisfactory in all cases, with a low complication rate. This technique may represent a viable alternative to other, more complex surgical approaches.Downloads
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