There is dire need to assess the functional and patient reported outcomes (PRO) of surgical and non-surgical treatments for distal biceps ruptures. There is limited evidence supporting the use of surgical treatment for optimal patient outcomes; should all other functional and PRO metrics be equal, establishing non-surgical treatment as standard of care could notably reduce health care and patient costs. There is also little data comparing the outcomes of the different surgical and the non-surgical treatment options for distal biceps ruptures. The proposed research will fill these gaps, by retrospectively comparing functional and patient-reported outcome data between non-surgical treatment, direct repair, high flexion angle repair, and allograft reconstruction following distal biceps ruptures.
This research will help answer:
1. Does surgical or non-surgical treatment of distal biceps tendon ruptures lead to better functional outcomes?
2. What is the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial to compare surgical and non-surgical treatment of distal biceps tendon rupture?
3. Which distal biceps tendon rupture treatment provides the best functional and patient reported outcomes?
Although 89% of patients with a distal biceps tendon rupture returned to work after surgical repair, there was high variation in recovery time. Missed work time and the surgical burden on the healthcare system incur notable financial costs, that could be reduced with alternative non-surgical treatment options. The results of this study will directly inform surgical decision-making to ultimately reduce missed work time due to distal biceps tendon injuries. Additionally, our proposed strength and fatigue evaluations following injury and treatment will provide quantitative evidence of the best treatment management to ensure Albertans return to work strong and healthy following a distal biceps tear. The proposed research is an important advancement of our current scientific knowledge regarding the optimal treatment options for distal biceps tendon rupture.