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Review
. 2017 Mar 13;1(6):255-259.
doi: 10.1302/2058-5241.1.000038. eCollection 2016 Jun.

Distal triceps ruptures

Affiliations
Review

Distal triceps ruptures

Mehmet Demirhan et al. EFORT Open Rev. .

Abstract

Distal triceps ruptures are rare injuries due to the special anatomical features of the muscle and tendon-bone junction.This injury typically occurs at the tendon-bone junction due to an eccentric contraction of the muscle.The treatment is controversial, especially in partial ruptures; surgical repair is indicated for complete ruptures of the distal triceps tendon.Several repair techniques have been described for acute complete ruptures.Chronic ruptures often require reconstruction rather than direct repair. Cite this article: Demirhan M, Ersen A. Distal triceps ruptures. EFORT Open Rev 2016;1:255-259. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.1.000038.

Keywords: aetiology; anatomy; diagnosis; distal rupture; transosseous repair; treatment; triceps.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The dome shape of the triceps footprint on the olecranon.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Pathognomonic finding of the triceps rupture: the ‘fleck’ sign.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
MR imaging of triceps rupture from the insertion of the olecranon.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
a) Exposure of the ruptured triceps through the posterior approach. b) Grasping of the tendon with double-locked Krackow sutures. c) Final fixation of the triceps with transosseous repair.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
a) The insertion of the anchor in the centre of the footprint of the triceps tendon. b) Grasping of the tendon with the sutures leading from the anchor. c) Final fixation of the tendon with the suture anchor technique.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
a) Heterotopic ossification (HO) after suture anchor repair of a triceps rupture. b) Same elbow after HO resection.

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