Distal Triceps Tendon Complete Rupture in A Professional Athlete: A Case Report and Review of The Literature

The distal triceps tendon rupture is a relatively rare injury, accounting for less than 1% of all tendon injuries.Several risk factors have been described.In this article, we present the case of a 34-year-old athlete with a complete rupture of the distal triceps tendon of his left arm that took place during the Cross-Fit national games.The patient presented reduced range of motion, swelling, a palpable gap over the olecranon and inability to extend his left elbow against gravity.Ultrasound and MRI revealed a complete rupture of the distal triceps tendon.Surgery was performed a week after the injury.The central stump of the tendon was reattached at his anatomic position, while the sutures were passed through 2 transosseous drill holes in the olecranon and stabilized with an anchor.A fast-track postoperative protocol including a supervised gradual strengthening program was followed.No complications were noticed during the follow up.The patient returned to full sport activity 4 months postoperatively.