Is surgery advised for a torn distal bicep?
Biceps Tendon Tear Surgery & Recovery Bob, Choctow, Oklahoma asks: “I was lifting a very heavy weight and heard a pop in my lower bicep area. I’ve been told that it is probably a tendon tear. I can still move my arm up and down, but I have lost a significant amount of strength. There was a small amount of swelling at the crook of my arm and there was bruising from my wrist to mid upper arm. Will this require surgery to repair? How long is the recovery? I work out with free weights about 3 times a week.” Marc Bernier at the Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center (ASMOC), replies: “From the description you have given, it would appear that you have suffered a distal biceps tendon tear. This injury is most commonly caused by a vigorous eccentric contraction (lengthens whilst contracting) of the biceps muscle, similar to the mechanism you have described. “The symptoms you have reported are textbook for this injury: * a popping felt at the elbow; * localized swelling and bruising at
Treatment What can I do to treat this problem? Nonsurgical Treatment Many doctors prefer to treat distal biceps tendon ruptures with surgery. Nonsurgical treatments are usually only used for people who do minimal activities and require minimal arm strength. Nonsurgical treatments are only used if arm weakness, fatigue, and mild deformity aren’t an issue. If you are an older individual who can tolerate loss of strength, or if the injury occurs in your nondominanat arm, you and your doctor may decide that surgery is not necessary. Not having surgery often results in significant loss of strength. Flexion of the elbow is somewhat affected, but supination (which is the motion of twisting the forearm, such as when you use a screwdriver) can be very affected. A distal biceps rupture that is not repaired reduces supination strength by about 50 percent. Nonsurgical measures may include a sling to rest the elbow. Patients may be given anti-inflammatory medicine to help ease pain and swelling and
