Our study aims to demonstrate the efficacy of using endobutton and interference screw technique in the repair of acute distal biceps ruptures.

From April 2009 to May 2013, 25 consecutive patients had acute distal biceps tendon repairs using an endobutton and interference screw technique. 3 patients were lost to follow up leaving 22 patients available for review. Mean follow up was 24 months(1–51). All were evaluated using a questionnaire, examination, radiographs, power measurements, and Oxford Elbow and MAYO scores.

Overall 95% patients (21/22) felt that their surgery was successful and rated their overall experience as excellent or good. Mean return to work was at 100 days(0–280) and mean postoperative pain relief was 23 days(1–56). 55% returned to sport at their pre-injury level. There was one case (4.5%) of heterotopic calcification with 3 superficial infections(14%). There were no intra or postoperative radial fractures, metalwork failures or metalwork soft tissue irritations.

Mean pre-operative Oxford Elbow Scores were 18(6–37) and post operative 43(24–48) (p<0.00001). Mean pre-operative Mayo scores were 48(5–95) and post-operative were 95(80–100)(p<0.00001).

Our study supports that distal biceps repairs using the endobutton and interference screw technique appears to lead to high patient satisfaction rates with a relatively early return to function.

Introduction

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly being used to assess the quality of healthcare delivery in the United Kingdom. It is important when using PROMs to know the score of the background population against which any clinical intervention maybe benchmarked. The purpose of this study was to measure an elbow-specific PROM for the population of the South West Peninsula.