Distal Biceps Tendon Repair
Distal Biceps Tendon Repair Surgeon
Are you an athlete who participates in sports that involve heavy lifting? If so, you may experience a distal biceps tendon rupture which occurs when the tendon becomes detached from the forearm. Distal biceps tendon repair surgeon Dr. Nikhil Verma provides diagnosis and both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for patients in Chicago who have suffered a distal biceps tendon tear. Contact Dr. Verma’s team today!
An Overview on Distal Biceps Tendon Repair
The biceps muscle, located in the front of the upper arm, allows the elbow to bend and the forearm to rotate. The muscle attaches to the forearm bone by the use of a tendon that acts like a rope at the end of the muscle. When the tendon becomes detached from the forearm, a distal biceps tendon rupture occurs, leading to elbow pain and weakness. Dr. Nikhil Verma, Chicago, Westchester, Oak Brook and Hinsdale, Illinois area elbow surgeon, typically recommends a distal biceps tendon repair when a patient tears the distal biceps tendon. The surgical procedure helps restore strength and function back to the elbow joint.
When a patient sustains a distal biceps tendon rupture, surgery is commonly the primary treatment method and must be performed within a couple weeks of the tear. Prolonging the distal biceps tendon repair can make the procedure more difficult because of scar tissue and retraction of the tendon.
Dr. Verma performs direct surgical repair of the biceps tendon in a minimally invasive procedure in certain patients. This technique is performed right after the tear occurs and the swelling has decreased. The surgery requires a single, small incision to be created across the middle of the front of the elbow so Dr. Verma can enter the arm and gain control of the disconnected biceps tendon. After the damaged fibers from the torn tendon are removed, Dr. Verma will reattach the biceps tendon to the correct location with surgical sutures and a button in the bone.
If the biceps tendon is no longer present because of a chronic elbow injury, a graft from the patient’s hamstring tendon or a donor tissue is used to rebuild the torn biceps tendon. Dr. Verma will sew into a patient’s native biceps muscle and then sew back into the bone so the biceps muscle will function as needed, providing flexion and rotation to the elbow and forearm.
Recovery and Rehabilitation after Distal Biceps Tendon Repair
A full functional recovery following a distal biceps tendon rupture is common in most patients after a surgical repair. Following the distal biceps tendon repair, Dr. Verma will recommend that the arm be placed in a sling and splint for a predetermined amount of time (usually four to six weeks). A physical therapy program will be prescribed to rehabilitate the arm. Patients are strongly encouraged to follow the physical therapy program as directed to help maximize the opportunity for a full recovery.
For more information on a distal biceps tendon repair surgery to treat a distal biceps tendon rupture, please contact the office of Dr. Nikhil Verma, orthopedic elbow surgeon serving the communities of Chicago, Westchester, Oak Brook and Hinsdale, Illinois.
