You just felt a pop in your elbow and noticed that your biceps looks deformed. Now what? The tendon that may have ruptured at your elbow is called the distal bicep tendon. It connects to a segment of the radius bone called the radial tuberosity, which is near the elbow joint. A distal bicep rupture happens when the tendon connecting the biceps muscle to the elbow is torn from your bone. The distal bicep rupture usually occurs in middle-aged males who participate in hefty labor or lifting. A distal bicep rupture is uncommon compared to additional ruptures. Distal biceps ruptures accumulate to just 3% of all biceps tendon ruptures.
What are the Symptoms of a Distal Bicep Rupture?
Your bicep is one of the leading muscles that assist you in moving your elbow and rotating your forearm. When the distal bicep tendon ruptures, patients experience abrupt pain and is regularly followed by bruising or swelling above or below your elbow. Various symptoms that are common include trouble in all motions of your forearm and elbow, swelling and bruising around the elbow, pain, a large bulge in the upper arm, or hearing a snapping or “pop” sound when the damage occurred.
What Causes Distal Biceps to Rupture?
Over time distal biceps tendon can deteriorate which is known as tendonosis. Tendonosis of the bicep tendon may be painless, however it can also trigger a sharp pain. There is also tendinitis which refers to inflammation being present around the tendon, especially by the forearm. Any type of repeated lifting could cause tendinitis in the bicep. In certain circumstances tendonosis and tendinitis can result in partial tendon tears or a complete tendon ruptures. A bicep tendon tear or rupture often emerges without any warning signs. It normally strikes when lifting heavy items, incorrectly.
How to Treat a Distal Bicep Rupture?
If your bicep tendon ruptures entirely, it’s a fact that it will not grow back to your bone. You should pursue medical professional care immediately! Surgery is the greatest repair choice after the damage. If you procrastinate or prolong repairing your distal bicep rupture, it may become much more problematic to fix – or might be irreversible. Not pursuing medical treatment could also arise an issue of scar tissue development around the tendon. Your physician will want to take a closer look to better diagnosing your distal bicep rupture with x-rays, ultrasound, or an MRI. Surgery is essential to prevent tendon retraction.
Distal Bicep Rupture Treatment in Chicago, Illinois
If a distal bicep rupture is left untreated, it could result in limited function of your bicep and chronic pain. Seek care immediately with Dr. Roger Chams. Dr. Chams at Illinois Bone and Joint Institute is here to provide education, treatment, and support for his patients. With extensive training in repairing a distal bicep rupture and with a number of convenient locations available around the Chicago area, Dr. Chams can help you! Contact us today to schedule a consultation or to learn more about the services we offer.
