Biceps tear (Distal Biceps Repair)

What is it?

• The biceps muscle has two tendons which insert into the shoulder.
• These muscles allow you to bend the elbow and rotate the arm.
• A biceps tendon tear at the elbow is generally less common than a biceps tendon tear at the shoulder.

What are the symptoms?

• Popping sounds at injury
• This kind of injury often occurs on heavy lifting
• Pain, tenderness and weakness at the shoulder or elbow
• Trouble turning the palms face up or face down
• Bruising
• Bulging above the elbow
• Sharp and sudden pain near the elbow

 What is the treatment?

• A severe biceps tendon tear needs prompt treatment as the distal biceps tendon cannot regrow back to the bone and heal itself.
• Permanent weakness can occur if the tendon is not repaired surgically and a deformed and high riding biceps muscle can cause you to lose more than half of your elbow strength.
• For these reasons, surgical repair is most effective within first two weeks of symptoms.
• There is about a 3 month recovery post surgery.