文摘
Objective Objectives were to study the MRI appearance of the repaired distal biceps tendon (DBT), anatomically reinserted, and to search for a correlation between tendon measurements and functional results. Materials and methods Twenty-five patients (mean age,-9?±-.9 years old) who benefited from 3-T MRI follow-up of the elbow after surgical reinsertion of the DBT were retrospectively included and compared to a control group (n--5; mean age,-8?±-0 years old). MRI was performed during the month of clinical follow-up and on average 22?months after surgery. Delayed complications (secondary avulsion, new rupture), intratendinous osteoma, tendinous signal on T1-weighted (T1w) and fat-suppressed proton density-weighted (FS-PDw) images as well as DBT measurements were recorded. The maximum isometric elbow flexion strength (MEFS) and range of motion of the elbow were assessed. Results Repaired DBT demonstrated a heterogeneous but normally fibrillar structure. Its low T1w signal was less pronounced than that of normal tendons, and the FS-PDW image signal was similar to that of T1w images. MRI detected seven osteomas (Se--3?% vs. plain radiography), one textiloma and one secondary avulsion. Repaired DBT measurements were significantly correlated with MEFS (dominant arm R2: 0.38; nondominant arm R2: 0.54); this correlation involved the insertion surface (Δ- ?5.7?mm2, p--.046), transverse diameter (Δ- ?.6?mm, p--.018), anteroposterior diameter at the level of the radial head (Δ- ?.9?mm, p--.001) and DBT cross-sectional area (Δ- ?0.2?mm2, p--.003). Conclusion The quality of functional outcome after anatomical elbow rehabilitation of DBT correlates with the extent of tendinous hypertrophy during the healing process.