Bilateral and simultaneous rupture of the triceps tendons in chronic renal failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism

Abstract

Background: We report a case of a 27-year-old (male) patient with bilateral and simultaneous rupture of the triceps tendons. He was suffering from chronic renal failure secondary to acute glomerulonephritis and for 4 years he underwent maintenance hemodialysis three times a week. This injury is extremely rare, and only one case has been reported in the international literature. Based on previous cases of tendon ruptures in patients with chronic renal failure, we believe that secondary hyperparathyroidism is the primary causative factor in his case.

Case report: A primary repair was performed using heavy, nonabsorbable sutures passed through holes drilled in the olecranon with the technique described by Levy. The suture line was then protected with a figure-of-eight tension band wire. Our patient obtained full range of motion bilaterally within 3 months.