Rupture of the Distal Biceps Brachii Tendon

AVULSION of the tendon of the biceps brachii at its distal insertion has been reported as a rare lesion. In the past 20 yr numerous articles have appeared describing this clinical entity and its treatment.1-8However, since 1898 only approximately 100 cases of this condition have been reported. The largest series was recorded in 1941 by Dobbie4who collected 51 cases by circularizing 490 US physicians. The maximum number reported by any single surgeon was three, a figure that has not been exceeded in subsequent articles. In the present paper the author wishes to report a series of nine cases that have been subjected to surgical repair and an additional four unrepaired cases. The articles reviewed were primarily concerned with the manner of insertion of the biceps tendon. The question arises as to whether this tendon should be reattached at its anatomical point of insertion on the