What Is a Bicep Tendon Tear?
The biceps muscle lies in the anterior portion of your upper arm and helps you bend the elbow. It also enables you to rotate the arm. The biceps tendons connect the biceps muscle to the elbow and shoulder bones.
A biceps tear can either be partial or complete. With partial biceps tendon tears, there is no complete break of the tendon. Complete tendon tears will split the tendon into two.
Biceps tendon tears at the elbow:
Two tendons attach the biceps muscle to the bone at the shoulder; however, only one connects it to the elbow. This is called the distal biceps tendon. Tears of the distal biceps tendon are typically complete where the muscle is completely dislodged from the bone. The most frequent causes of distal biceps tendon tears are a sudden injury or lifting a heavy object.
What are the Symptoms of Bicep Tendon Tears?
The common symptom is sudden, sharp pain in the upper arm or at the elbow, depending on which part of the tendon has been injured. In fact, you might even hear a "pop". You may also experience swelling, visible bruising, weakness in the shoulder or elbow, and difficulty turning your arm palm or palm down. You may also develop a bulge in your arm, known as a "Popeye Muscle," again from the improperly positioned tendon attaching the muscle.
What causes Bicep Tendon Tears?
Biceps tendon tears are usually caused by trauma wherein someone falls on an outstretched arm or during some heavy lifting. When a tendon is overused, it frays down and eventually tears. Other conditions that result in the degeneration or rupture of the biceps tendon include tendonitis, shoulder impingement, and rotator cuff injuries. Other risk factors include advancing age, heavy overhead work, repetitive overhead sports, smoking, and the use of corticosteroids, which may result in the tearing of the tendon.
What are the diagnoses for Bicep Tendon Tears?
Biceps tendon tear is commonly diagnosed through the symptoms, medical history, and physical assessment. The doctor will check if there is a gap in the front portion of the elbow during the physical examination. Your doctor will check for a partial tear by having you bend your arm and tightening your biceps muscle. You could feel pain if there is a partial tear. X-rays could be taken out to rule out other conditions for shoulder and elbow pains. Your doctor can determine a complete or partial tear with an MRI scan.
What is the Treatment for Bicep Tendon Tears?
The Non-surgical Treatment Options for Bicep Tendon Tears are:
The Conservative treatment for a proximal biceps tendon tear includes:
- Use of ice
- Avoid doing exercise
- anti-inflammatory medications to minimize the pain and reduce the swelling
- flexibility and strengthening exercises to restore mobility and strengthen of the surrounding muscles
Surgery for Bicep Tendon Tears:
The torn tendon is seldom surgically fixed back to the bone. However, this may be their only hope for patients whose tears are partial, those who want some type of treatment while still experiencing symptoms, or who wish to regain all strength in an arm, such as athletes or manual laborers.
Your surgeon may opt for a few surgical procedures for distal bicep tendon tear, wherein the distal biceps tendon is attached to the forearm bone.The surgeons can make two incisions or only one incision. Both procedures have advantages and disadvantages. In this procedure, the tendon is attached by stitches via holes drilled inside the bone, or tiny metal implants can be used to secure the tendon to the bone during the process.
What is the post-surgical care of Bicep Tendon Tears?
After surgical repair, you will have to undergo flexibility and strengthening exercises to enhance the range of motion in your shoulder.
What are the Risks and Complications of Bicep Tendon Tears?
Risks are infrequent and include conditions like numbness and weakness of the forearm, formation of new bone, limited movement, and re-tearing can occur.
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