What Is Biceps, Triceps and Pectoralis Repair?
Biceps, triceps and pectoralis repair refers to the surgical treatment of injuries to or conditions of the biceps, the triceps or the pectoralis (chest muscles, also known as pecs). The exact nature of the repair will depend on the nature of the injury or condition, which for these muscle groups are most often tendon or muscle strains or ruptures.
Common Reasons for Biceps, Triceps and Pectoralis Repairs
Biceps, triceps and pectoralis repairs are done for biceps, triceps and pectoralis injuries. These are most often tendon tears and ruptures, where the tissues attaching muscle to bone (tendons) have torn either partially or completely.
Candidates for Biceps, Triceps and Pectoralis Repairs
Treatment for biceps, triceps, and pectoralis injuries are individualized. Pectoralis tears can either be in the muscle or tendon, where the tendon pulled off of the arm bone. Muscular sprains can often be treated nonoperatively. Tendinous injuries usually result in an obvious visual deformity and tend to occur in young, active weightlifters. These injuries are best treated operatively.
Triceps and distal biceps tendinitis is initially treated with a combination of rest, anti-inflammatories and physical therapy. There is a limited role for corticosteroid injection in this group.
Those who do not respond to nonoperative management may be worked up further with advanced imaging studies including an MRI. Significant partial or full-thickness tears may be treated surgically. Patient with acute injuries that caused a rupture in their triceps or biceps are, in most cases, treated operatively to achieve optimal results.
The Procedures
The nature of the procedure depends on the type and location of the injury.
If the biceps tendon that attaches at the shoulder is injured, the surgeon will either perform a biceps tenodesis or tenotomy. In a tenodesis the tendon attachment is moved from the shoulder socket (glenoid) to the upper arm (humerus), while in a tenotomy the tendon is cut from the glenoid and allowed to hang down.
For a tear to the biceps tendon attachment at the elbow, the tendon will be reattached to the radius (the thumb-side forearm bone), either with metal implants or by drilling holes into the radius and running stitches through the holes.
Triceps tendon tears at the elbow are attached similarly to biceps tendon tears. However, instead of the radius, the triceps tendon is reattached at a bony outcrop at the end of the ulna, which is called the olecranon process.
A pectoralis tear can be the result of the bench press exercise gone wrong. In the most common type of pectoralis injury, the pectoralis tendon is reattached to the humerus.
Recovery
Recovery will depend upon the procedure performed. There is usually some pain after the surgery, which can be controlled by anti-inflammatories and painkillers. Often, the affected arm will be immobilized with a sling and/or splint for a number of weeks.
Physical therapy may be necessary to strengthen the affected muscle and the muscles around it, as well as to return range of motion to the affected limb. Recovery time depends on the procedure, but in general these injuries will be fully healed three to six months after surgical repair.
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