“Popeye Bicep - Active and Risking Other Tendon Tear?”
I have a pop-eye bicep from a torn tendon. I am very active in recreational sports and light manual labor. I'm a senior citizen. I need to know the risks of my other tendon tearing. If it happens, will I be in agony? What would be the process of recovery? I need to know as an active person if I need surgery to remain active.
Male | 74 years old
2 Answers
OrthopaedicSurgeonOrthopaedicSurgeon
You can be fully active with a torn biceps tendon that tore at the shoulder. No surgery is required unless you tear the rotator cuff tendons.
Most people do very well with a long head of the biceps rupture. You are able to regain all of your flexion strength and most of your supination strength. This is palm up motion. The indications for surgery would be pain or loss of significant strength with either of these motions. The more important thing may be that often times in somebody your age is often associated with rotator cuff injury so watch out for the start of any shoulder pain. In general unless you’re having pain or loss of function would be to try to compensate for the rupture by strengthening the other muscles which allow you to flex your elbow and also to position the hand in the palm up position. Rupture of the other a long head of the biceps is a uncommon. It can occur if you’re doing a lot of overhead activity or heavy lifting. So bottom line is I would recommend surgery only if you’re having loss of function or persistent pain.
