rupture of biceps tendon (Popeye sign)

Etiology

• injury or trauma
• risk factors
  • older age
  • glucocorticoids
  • smoking
  • transthyretin amyloidosis

Clinical manifestations

• often a "pop" at the elbow when the tendon ruptures
• pain is severe at first, but may subside after a week or two
• anterior elbow bruising & edema
• weakness in bending of the elbow
• weakness in supination
• a bulge in the upper part of the arm created by the recoiled, shortened biceps muscle (Popeye sign)

* images

Radiology

• X-ray will not show tendon rupture
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Management

• surgery:
  • tendon should be repaired withint 2-weeks of injury
  • after this, the tendon & biceps muscle begin to scar & shorten

More general terms

• tendon rupture