Traumatic avulsion of the triceps tendon with fracture dislocation of the elbow. a case report

ABSTRACT

The distal traumatic avulsion of the triceps muscle is an exceptional lesion. The clinical presentation is associated with an intense sudden pain of the posterior side of the elbow with loss of active extension of the fore-arm and the palpation of a depression above the olecranon. The presence of small avulsed bone fragment of the olecranon over a lateral X-ray view of the elbow confirms the diagnosis. The antero-posterior and lateral views of the elbow also help to investigate for any bone lesion, particularly a fracture of the radial head. The trans-osseous and periosteal reinsertion often yield good results. The related observation is remarkable. In fact, it is to our knowledge, that this is the first case of traumatic avulsion of the tricipital brachial tendon associated with a fracture-laxation of the right elbow with a fracture of the radial head and a postero-lateral sublaxation of the elbow