EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Case Report Volume 6 Issue 3 - 2023

A Case of Bilateral and Simultaneous Triceps Tendon Rupture in a 42-Year-Old Male Bodybuilder

Kacie L Mitchell1*, Eiline Cai1 and Colten Luedke1,2

1Texas A&M School of Medicine, College Station, TX, USA

2Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, College Station, TX, USA

*Corresponding Author: Kacie L Mitchell, Texas A&M School of Medicine, College Station, TX, USA.
Received: January 27, 2023; Published: February 16, 2023



Background: Triceps tendon rupture (TTR) is an uncommon injury that classically occurs in middle-aged men associated with trauma and metabolic risk factors.

Case Description: In our case, we present a 42-year-old professional bodybuilder who sustained simultaneous and bilateral complete distal triceps tendon rupture with retraction during an incline dumbbell press. Aside from his profession as a bodybuilder, our patient possessed no additional risk factors for TTR. The bilateral tendons were repaired operatively using a double-row suture anchor technique. Following surgical intervention, the patient had a benign postoperative course and regained the full range of motion and strength of both elbows.

Keywords: Triceps Tendon Rupture; Bodybuilding; Elbow

  1. Gaviria M., et al. “Triceps Tendon Ruptures: Risk Factors, Treatment, and Rehabilitation”. JBJS Reviews4 (2020): e0172.
  2. Koplas MC., et al. “Prevalence of triceps tendon tears on MRI of the elbow and clinical correlation”. Skeletal Radiology5 (2011): 587-594.
  3. Dunn JC., et al. “Triceps Tendon Ruptures: A Systematic Review”. Hand5 (2017): 431-438.
  4. Chan AP., et al. “Unusual traumatic triceps tendon avulsion rupture: a word of caution”. Hong Kong Medical Journal4 (2009): 294-296.
  5. Yeh PC., et al. “Distal triceps rupture”. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons1 (2010): 31-40.
  6. Harris PC., et al. “Bilateral partial rupture of triceps tendon: case report and quantitative assessment of recovery”. American Journal of Sports Medicine3 (2004): 787-792.
  7. Najefi AA and Domos P. “A unique case of bilateral triceps avulsion fracture in a patient with pseudohypoparathyroidism”. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery3 (2021): 334-338.
  8. Zaidenberg EE., et al. “Simultaneous Bilateral Rupture of the Triceps Tendon in a Renal Transplant Patient”. Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports (2015): 903690.
  9. Taşoğlu Ö., et al. “Bilateral quadriceps and triceps tendon rupture in a hemodialysis patient”. Hemodialysis International1 (2016): E19-E21.
  10. Mangano T., et al. “Chronic Tendonopathy as a Unique Cause of Non Traumatic Triceps Tendon Rupture in a (Risk Factors Free) Bodybuilder: A Case Report”. Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports1 (2015): 58-61.
  11. Desai B., et al. “Bilateral and Simultaneous Rupture of the Triceps Tendon in a Patient without Predisposing Factors”. Case Reports in Emergency Medicine (2012): 920685.
  12. Yeh PC., et al. “The distal triceps tendon footprint and a biomechanical analysis of 3 repair techniques”. American Journal of Sports Medicine5 (2010): 1025-1033.
  13. Horneff JG., et al. “Functional outcomes of distal triceps tendon repair comparing transosseous bone tunnels with suture anchor constructs”. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery12 (2017): 2213-2219.
  14. Stanley D., et al. “Outcome Measures in Surgery of the Elbow”. In: Operative elbow surgery. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier (2012): 705-716.

Kacie L Mitchell., et al. A Case of Bilateral and Simultaneous Triceps Tendon Rupture in a 42-Year-Old Male Bodybuilder. EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports   6.3 (2023): 08-13.