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Triceps Ruptures

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The Elbow

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Abstract

Triceps tendon tear is a relatively rare injury. Rupture is often associated with pre-existing systemic conditions or drug treatments, including the local or systemic of steroids. Patients tend to be men who practice sports and are from 30 to 50 years of age. Injury is commonly caused by falls on an outstretched hand, direct trauma on the elbow, or lifting against resistance. The clinical examination may detect pain, a palpable tendon gap, and extension weakness, while a pathognomonic flake sign may be seen on radiographs. Magnetic resonance imaging is widely accepted as the gold standard to evaluate the size and extension of the tear: triceps lesions often occur at the tendon insertion and result in either partial or total tears.

Conservative treatment may be adopted for partial tears, with patients normally being able to return to sports or heavy activities after 4–6 months, when symptoms have resolved and strength has almost returned to normal. Nevertheless, patients need to be followed closely throughout this period to ensure that the lesion does not worsen.

Primary repair of complete triceps injury should be performed as soon as possible to guarantee the recovery of daily functions and sports activity 3 and 5 months postoperatively, respectively, minimizing the risk of re-rupture at the same time. Postoperative care is based on elbow immobilization for 3–4 weeks and flexion block bracing for a further 2–3 weeks. Full flexion and active extension are normally initiated 6–8 weeks postoperatively. The recovery of extension strength against resistance starts after 12 weeks, whereas unrestricted activity is allowed after 5–6 months.

Delayed diagnosis and treatment may complicate primary repair and lead to the need for reconstructive procedures. Small defect reconstruction by means of the anconeus rotation procedure ensures full ROM and strength in the long term. By contrast, an allograft using an Achilles tendon or hamstring autograft is required in chronic cases associated with large tendon gaps. A long rehabilitation period is to be expected in such cases, and muscle strength may only partially be regained. The postoperative protocol adopted in augmentation procedures is the same as that adopted for primary repair, though each step needs to be delayed by 2–3 weeks.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome - Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy

    Giuseppe Giannicola, Gianluca Bullitta, David Polimanti & Marco Scacchi

  2. U.O.C. Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Ospedale Cristo Re, Rome, Italy

    Federico M. Sacchetti

Authors
  1. Giuseppe Giannicola
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  2. Gianluca Bullitta
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  3. Federico M. Sacchetti
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  4. David Polimanti
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  5. Marco Scacchi
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Correspondence to Giuseppe Giannicola .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Policlinico di Modena, Shoulder and Elbow Unit, D. Cervesi Hospital, Cattolica, Italy

    Giuseppe Porcellini

  2. Rizzoli Institute, Bologna, Italy

    Roberto Rotini

  3. Terme di San Petronio - Antalgik, Bologna, Physiomedica, Faenza, Italy

    Susanna Stignani Kantar

  4. Shoulder Team, ForlìCio - Collegio Italiano Osteopatia, Parma, Italy

    Silvia Di Giacomo

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Giannicola, G., Bullitta, G., Sacchetti, F.M., Polimanti, D., Scacchi, M. (2018). Triceps Ruptures. In: Porcellini, G., Rotini, R., Stignani Kantar, S., Di Giacomo, S. (eds) The Elbow. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27805-6_28

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