UNCOMMON BILATERAL TRICEPS TENDON TEAR

Abstract

Triceps tendon tear is one of the least commonly recognized major tendon traumatic tears. A bilateral triceps tendon tear is an especially rare and uncommon entity. In this paper, we present the case of a 42-year-old man, with a suspect history of anabolic steroid use, presented to an urgent surgery facility at the day of injury. The pain was present after lifting weight (approximately 210 kg). On physical examination, mild tenderness and a palpable defect over each olecranon was present. He had almost full strength on extension; however, he complained of weakness and pain in both arms, especially on the medial part of the distal triceps tendon. We excluded first a possible fracture of the bones, after making an X-ray of the injured areas. After making an ultrasound on both triceps' tendons, we admitted the patient to the hospital. At the left triceps tendon, we revealed partial rupture of the medial head of the triceps muscle. At the right triceps tendon, the rupture was complete. A subsequent fat-saturated proton-density-weighted MRI of the right confirmed the diagnosis, with extensive oedema and surrounding hemorrhage. Surgery on the right triceps tendon was then performed.