Rupture Long Head Biceps

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Definition/Description

A biceps tendon rupture often occur after a sudden contraction of the biceps with resistance to flexion of the elbow and supination of the forearm. This can further be aggravated by the intrinsic degeneration of the tendon release and frictional wear of the tendon belly. This intrinsic degeneration is caused by improper training or fatigue. Inordinate stresses can be placed on the biceps as it attempts to compensate for other muscles. This can lead to attrition and failure, either within the tendon substance or at its origin.

Clinically relevant anatomy

The biceps brachii muscle consists of 2 parts: The long head and the short head. The long head originates at the supraglenoid tubercle and is attached to the dorsal aspect of the radial tuburosity. It runs intra-articularly over the humeral head and follows the bicipital groove distal to the glenohumeral joint. It functions as dynamic stabilizer of the glenohumeral joint, as well as a depressor of the humeral head. The short head is a functions more in elbow flexor, while the long head functions more in forearm supination.

The parts of the tendon differ in shape. The intra-articular part is wide and flat while the extra-articular part is rounder and smaller. The articular portion of the long head of biceps is vascularly supplied by the anterior circumflex artery, mostly to the proximal tendon. The distal portion is fibrocartilaginous and avascular. Soft-tissue stabilizes the extra-articular long head of biceps when it enters the bicipital groove en this is built by fibers of the coracohumeral ligament, superior glenohumeral ligament and parts of the subscapularis tendon.

Epidemiology/Etiology

Epidemiology

Biceps tendon rupture mainly occurs in individuals between 40 and 60 years who already have a history of shoulder problems. It mostly affects the dominant arm. A biceps tendon tear can also occur in younger individuals, but usually after a traumatic fall on an outstretched arm, heavy weightlifting or consistently sport activities such as snowboarding and soccer.

Etiology

Tendon rupture usually results from sudden contraction of the biceps associated with resisted elbow flexion and supination of the forearm. A possible predisposing role is played by intrinsic degeneration of the tendon tissue or frictional wear of the tendon belly.

Risk factors

• Age: Older people have put more years of wear and tear on their tendons than younger people.
• Heavy overhead activities
• Shoulder overuse - repetitive strain injuries:
  • Can lead to additional shoulder injuries, including tendonitis, shoulder impingement, and rotator cuff injuries
  • Having any of these conditions puts more stress on the biceps tendon, making it more likely to weaken or tear
• Smoking: Nicotine use can affect nutrition in the tendon
• Corticosteroids: Linked to increased muscle and tendon weakness
• Gender: More common in men (most likely primarily from vocational or avocational factors)

Characteristics/Clinical presentation

Patients with a long head biceps rupture report a wide variety of symptoms.

• Trauma:
  • Audible pop
  • Sharp anterior shoulder pain with or without snapping sensation
• Pain:
  • With overhead activities
  • Anterior shoulder pain that may get worse at night
• Associated pathologies that may lead to rupture of long head of biceps:
  • Rotator cuff tears
  • Tendonitis
  • Shoulder impingement
• Popeye deformity

Differential diagnosis

• Acromioclavicular joint separations
• Gout
• Rotator cuff disease
• Septic arthritis

Diagnostic procedures

Physical examination

• Assessment of the shoulder and arm contour:
  • (+) Popeye sign
  • Descent of the biceps muscle in the middle part of the arm (more obvious with contraction)
• Muscle power: Shoulder and elbow
• Range of motion (ROM): Shoulder and elbow
• Special tests:
  • Yergason's test : Positive if pain is reproduced in the bicipital groove during the test

• Speeds test

• Hook test

Special investigations

• MRI:
  • Axial and parasagittal planes needed
• Ultrasound

Outcome measures

• Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH), Quick DASH
• Constant-Murley score

Medical management

Anti-inflammatory medications can be used to reduce the underlying inflammatory process that may predispose tendons to rupture. When tendons are stressed or partially disrupted, anti-inflammatory medications can be used as analgesia.

Conservative management

Non-operative management is considered appropriate for older patients or patients who do not require a high level of supination strength. This is also considered for subacute or chronic biceps tendon tears.

Surgery

There are no consensus about surgical repair. Surgical repair consists of a tenotomy, which includes the attaching torn tendon to the bone. The results in full functional and muscle power recovery, as well as good cosmetic outcomes.

Indications:

• Young, athletic population
• Patients who needs maximum supination strength (e.g. manual labour like carpenters and port workers).
  • Patients lose up to 20% of supination strength with a biceps tear, but that rarely affects activities of daily living.
• Patients who struggle to accept aesthetics of Popeye deformity

Physiotherapy management

Post-operative rehabilitation

Patients have to wear a mastersling for the first 10-14 days after surgery. Only passive range of motion is allowed in that time. Light exercises is done from week 2 to 6, where after it is progressed to functional exercises between week 6 and 8, and progressed to resistance. After this, moderate loading may be tolerated but heavy loading is prohibited for the first few months.

Phase 1: Passive (Week 0-2)

• Warm up with pendulum exercises
• Passive ROM
• Full passive elbow flexion/extension ROM
• Full passive forearm supination/pronation ROM
• Full passive shoulder ROM
• Seated scapular retractions

Phase 2: Active (Week 2-6)

• Warm up with pendulum exercises
• Active ROM, with terminal stretch to prescribed limits
• Full active shoulder ROM, lawn chair progression
• Full active elbow flexion/extension ROM
• Full active forearm supination/pronation ROM

Phase 3: Resisted (Week 6-8)

• Warm up with pendulum exercises
• Theraband exercises:
  • Shoulder internal/external rotation at 30° abduction
  • Standing forward punch
  • Low rows
  • Bear hugs
• Prone I,T,Y,W.
• Biceps curls
• Resisted supination/pronation

Phase 4: Weight training (Week 8+)

• Keep hands within eyesight, keep elbows bent, minimize overhead activities
• Return to normal activities:
  • Computer work after 1-2 weeks
  • Golf after 4 weeks
  • Tennis after 8 weeks

Conservative management

Conservative management of long head of biceps rupture take 4-6 weeks on average.

• Oedema management:
  • RICE regime

The treatment takes 4-6 weeks 2-3 times in a week. It consists of mobilization and flexibility exercises to improve the shoulder ROM. After that, there are also strength and stretching exercises. The muscle will also be static trained. At home there will be home exercises. The exercises are extension and flexion and supination en pronation exercises. After a period the pain needs to be lower and the strength have to be better. Most people go back to work after 2-3 weeks but the work is adapted. After 8 weeks the ROM and the strength is back to normal. Normally there aren’t anymore restrictions more but the popeye malformation remains. (LoE: 3B)

Phase 1: Acute phase

Week 1

• Clinical modalities as needed
• Glenohumeral ROM:
  • Joint mobilization to restrict capsular tissue
  • Stretching as indicated
  • Home exercise programme:
    • ross-arm stretch
    • Sleeper stretch
    • Early scapular strengthening
• Scapular stabilization with instruction in lower trapezius facilitation

Phase 2: Subacute phase, early strengthening

Week 2

• Continue with modalities and ROM.
• Begin rotator cuff strengthening with theraband:
  • Internal/external rotation in 30° abduction
  • Low rows (prone, scapular plane abduction (<90°), ceilling punch, biceps and triceps)
    

Phase 3: Advanced strengthening

Week 3

• Continue with strengthening:
  • Resisted PNF patterns
  • Theraband exercises:
    • Bear hug
    • Reverse fly
    • Internal/external roation at 90° abduction for neuromuscular re-education
  • Push-up progression
  • Begin with plyometric exercises with both arms, progressing to one arm
  • Weight training

Phase 4: Return to activities

Week 4

• Continue with program
• Re-evaluation with physician and therapist
• Advance to return-to-sport program, as motion and strength allow

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