HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 35/12/2045    most recent 0363546507305679v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bisson, L. J. Articles by Buyea, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bisson, L. J. Articles by Buyea, C. Related Collections Elbow Rehabilitation/Training Operative Biomechanics

Is It Safe to Perform Aggressive Rehabilitation After Distal Biceps Tendon Repair Using the Modified 2-Incision Approach?

A Biomechanical Study

Leslie J. Bisson, MD^,*, Jennifer Gurske de Perio, MD, Alexander E. Weber, Mark T. Ehrensberger, MS and Cathy Buyea, MS

From the Department of Orthopaedics, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, and the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York

^* Address correspondence to Leslie J. Bisson, MD, 161 Farber Hall, Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214 (e-mail: klbisson{at}aol.com).

Background: Despite improved methods of fixation, there is still a delay in early active motion after distal biceps repair.

Hypothesis: Distal biceps repairs using the modified 2-incision technique can be treated with early motion, and there is no difference in the cyclic performance of Ethibond and Fiberwire when used for the repair.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Methods: Nine matched pairs of cadaveric elbows had release of the distal biceps followed by repair with either No. 5 Ethibond or Fiberwire through a bone tunnel. The repairs were cyclically loaded for 3000 cycles (1000 cycles from 10–50 N, 1000 cycles from 10–75 N, 1000 cycles from 10–100 N) followed by single-load displacement to failure in surviving specimens.

Results: There was no difference in the displacement or stiffness between surviving repairs at any point measured. Ethibond repairs survived significantly more cycles than did Fiberwire repairs, particularly at higher loads.

Conclusion: Distal biceps repair using the 2-incision technique with Ethibond should allow early active motion, but early active motion may not be possible with Fiberwire.

Key Words: distal biceps • Ethibond • Fiberwire • 2-incision