Clinical outcome after suture anchor repair for complete traumatic rupture of the distal triceps tendon

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical results of surgical repair of complete distal triceps tendon rupture using suture anchors and high-strength sutures by use of validated outcome measures.

Methods: A consecutive series of traumatic distal triceps tendon ruptures at a single institution were studied. All cases were surgically repaired by use of suture anchors double loaded with ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene-containing sutures. All patients were evaluated with a physical examination, radiographs, and questionnaires. The following postoperative validated outcome measures were used: the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score; the Oxford Elbow Score; the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons elbow assessment form; and the Mayo Elbow Performance Index.

Results: Five male patients with a mean follow-up of 32 months underwent suture anchor repair for traumatic rupture of the distal triceps tendon. Of the repairs, 3 were in the dominant arm and 2 in the nondominant arm. The mean patient age was 47 years (range, 35 to 54 years). Postoperatively, the mean DASH score was 1.4, the mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons elbow score was 99.2, the mean Mayo Elbow Performance Index was 95.8, the mean Oxford Elbow Score for pain was 98.8, the mean Oxford Elbow Score for function was 100, and the mean Oxford Elbow Score for the social domain was 96.2. A lower score for the DASH indicates less disability and better function.

Conclusions: This retrospective case series of suture anchor repair of distal triceps tendon ruptures showed excellent elbow function based on validated clinical outcome measures.

Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.