Functional Considerations in Bilateral, Simultaneous Tendon Injuries of the Upper Extremity: A Narrative Review of Current Literature

» Bilateral, simultaneous same-tendon injuries of the upper extremity are rarely encountered, yet their unique complexity poses a substantial challenge for treating orthopaedic surgeons.» In general, extremities with more tendon retraction should be repaired acutely while contralateral injuries can be treated in a staged or simultaneous manner depending on injury morphology, location, and anticipated functional impairment.» Combinations of accelerated and conventional rehabilitation protocols can be used for individual extremities to minimize the length of functional impairment.

A unique case of bilateral triceps avulsion fracture in a patient with pseudohypoparathyroidism

Triceps tendon ruptures and avulsions are rare injuries and are often associated with systemic diseases. This paper illustrates the unique case of a 20-year-old female patient with pseudohypoparathyroidism, who sustained bilateral triceps avulsion fractures after a fall. She underwent suture anchor fixation, augmented with tension band suture as double row repair with excellent post-operative results. We describe the pathophysiology of this injury and the unique method of fixation, which can be an alternative effective method to repair these injuries.

Triceps Tendon Injuries

Triceps tendon injuries are an uncommon clinical entity poorly described in the literature. This review discusses the spectrum of pathology, effective diagnosis, nonsurgical treatment, surgical treatment, rehabilitation, and surgical complications of triceps tendon injuries. Management of triceps tendinopathies depends on the mechanism of injury and the patient's motor examination. Triceps tendinopathies and partial tendon tears with intact strength can be managed conservatively with rest, ice, immobilization, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy. If conservative management fails for 6 months or there are strength deficits on examination, surgery should be considered. Based on the current evidence, there are no clear guidelines for "best" surgical approach. Although rare, the most significant surgical complication to be concerned about is rerupture. Rerupture rate is 4.62% among the articles we reviewed.