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Triceps Tendon Ruptures in Professional Football Players

Scott D. Mair, MD^*,, William M. Isbell, MD, Thomas J. Gill, MD, Theodore F. Schlegel, MD and Richard J. Hawkins, MD^||

From the University of Kentucky Sports Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, Steadman Hawkins Clinic, Denver, Colorado, and ^|| Steadman Hawkins Clinic, Vail, Colorado

^* Address correspondence to Scott D. Mair, MD, University of Kentucky Sports Medicine, 740 South Limestone, K-401 Kentucky Clinic, Lexington, KY 40536-0284.

Background: Distal rupture of the triceps tendon is a rare injury, and treatment guidelines are not well established.

Hypothesis: Football players with triceps tendon ruptures will be able to return to their sport with minimal functional deficits.

Study Design: Uncontrolled retrospective review.

Methods: Twenty-one partial and complete ruptures of the triceps tendon were identified in 19 National Football League players over a period of 6 years. Team physicians retrospectively reviewed training room, clinical, and operative notes for each of these players.

Results: Most of the injured players were linemen. The most common mechanism of injury was an eccentric load to a contracting triceps. Seven players had prodromal symptoms prior to injury, and 5 had received a cortisone injection. Eleven elbows with complete tears underwent surgical repair. Of 10 players with partial tears, 6 healed without surgery. One player suffered a subsequent complete tear requiring surgery, and 3 with residual pain and weakness underwent surgical repair following the season. Two surgical complications occurred, both requiring a second operation. All of the players but 1 returned to play at least one season of professional football after their injury.

Conclusions: Partial triceps tendon ruptures can heal without functional deficit. Surgical repair for complete ruptures generally produces good functional results and allows return to play.

Key Words: triceps • tendon • rupture • football • elbow

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