Calcification of distal biceps repair

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Calcification of distal biceps repair

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Calcification of distal biceps repair - May 30, 2006 8:04:00 AM

TLB

Posts: 353
Joined: September 13, 2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline

Anyone had any experience with this. The surgeon was very conservative and kept this guy in a sling for 9 weeks. He is now saying the guy will have to wait 8 months before he will go in and excise the tendon due to possible re ocurrance of the calcification. I read somewhere that in certain cases they used radiation and indomethicin post excision and had good results without having to wait 8 months.

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Todd

Post #: 1

Re: Calcification of distal biceps repair - May 31, 2006 3:09:00 AM

PTupdate.com

Posts: 1477
Joined: October 8, 2001
From: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Status: offline

Todd,

I have seen this twice with biceps repair. One time I had good luck with acetic acid iontophoresis..reducing the size by around 50%. The other time I did not, but as the bony growth was in the soft callous stage, it appeared to be somewhat more "moldable" as I worked on the ROM..which is what the primary problem was. I know somewhere along the line I read an article that discussed the heterotopic ossification issue with biceps repairs, so it can be a known problem.

I believe the use of Indomethacin is prophylactic, and done just after surgery to prevent the problem before it arises. This article does cover that aspect:

Distal Biceps Tendon Repair: One- and Two-Incision Techniques.

Technique
Techniques in Shoulder & Elbow Surgery. 3(2):90-95, June 2002.

John Duffy, PT OCS
[URL=http://www.PTupdate.com]www.PTupdate.com[/URL]

_____________________________

John M. Duffy, PT
Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist
www.PTupdate.com

(in reply to TLB)