Triceps Tendon Rupture

Triceps tendon rupture is uncommon and tends to occur in American football players and weight lifters. Olecranon bursitis, osteoarthritis, and steroid injections predispose patients to triceps tendon rupture. Most tears occur near the insertion site.

There is evidence of avulsion injury off the olecranon in 80% of cases. On MRI, the sagittal plane is best for delineating the extent of injury and differentiation partial from complete tears.

The lateral radiograph in this patient reveals posterior soft tissue swelling (white arrow) and bone fragments posteriorly (pink arrows), possibly corresponding to avulsion fragments. Sagittal MRI shows a tendon rupture with retraction from the olecranon (blue arrow). The location of the tendon corresponds roughly to where we saw some of the bone fragments on the lateral radiograph.

Reference

Chung CB. Chapter 11. In Chung CB and Steinbach LS. MRI of the Upper Extremity: Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist, and Hand. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2010. pp454-455.