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The Anatomy of the Bicipital Tuberosity and Distal Biceps Tendon.

Mazzocca, Romeo·J Shoulder Elbow Surg·2007·158 citations·Shoulder & Elbow
DOI·PubMed
SummaryAbstract on PubMed →

This cadaveric study maps the osteology of the bicipital tuberosity and the distal biceps tendon insertion footprint. It combines 178 dried radii, CT imaging of 48 specimens, and dissection of 18 fresh elbows. The goal is to guide distal biceps repair and proximal radius reconstruction.

Study Snapshot

Design
Cadaveric anatomic study
Setting: Hamann-Todd Collection; two university labs
Funding: Industry (Arthrex)
Objective
Whether the external and internal osteology of the bicipital tuberosity relates to the distal biceps insertion footprint.
Outcome(s)
Tuberosity dimensions, ridge morphology, and tendon insertion footprint
Subjects
178 dried radii, 48 CT, 18 fresh elbows
Inclusion
  • Dried cadaveric radii
  • Fresh-frozen cadaveric elbows
Statistics
Levene test for variances

Key Findings

  • The distal biceps tendon inserts as a ribbon-shaped footprint on the ulnar aspect of the tuberosity, measuring roughly 14 mm long by 2 mm wide. It occupies 63% of the length and only 13% of the width of the tuberosity, and critically does not cover the ridge.
  • The tuberosity ridge morphology is variable and was classified for the first time:
    –Single ridge: 88% (small 41%, medium 47%, large 12%)
    –Smooth / no ridge: 6%
    –Bifid: 6%
  • The authors never encountered the smooth type in a patient with a rupture.
  • The tendon passes over the ridge to reach its footprint, and the authors propose this ridge acts as a pulley that increases the mechanical advantage of the biceps. Repairs that shorten the tendon into a bony trough may theoretically reduce this advantage.
  • Mean bicipital tuberosity dimensions were 22 mm long and 15 mm wide, with a mean radial head diameter of 23 mm. These give surgeons reference values for reconstruction and radial head implant sizing.
  • CT defined the cortical distances for tunnel or button fixation:
    –Coronal unicortical (anterior cortex only): 13 mm
    –Coronal bicortical: 15 mm
    –Sagittal bicortical: 16 mm
  • No anatomic measurement correlated with age, sex, or race (P > .05), so these reference dimensions apply broadly across patients.
Board PearlThe distal biceps inserts as a ribbon on the ulnar aspect of the tuberosity and does not cover the ridge, which acts as a pulley.

Clinical Relevance

When you repair a distal biceps rupture, the target is the ulnar aspect of the tuberosity, not the ridge or the center of the bone. This paper defines that footprint precisely: a narrow ribbon covering about 63% of tuberosity length and only 13% of its width. Knowing this shapes where you place your bone tunnel, anchor, or cortical button.

The authors frame a mechanistic model for rupture. A prominent tuberosity edge erodes the tendon during rotation, and the interosseous space narrows about 50% in pronation, both stressing the tendon under load.

The ridge acts as a pulley to boost biceps mechanical advantage, which is the anatomic argument for restoring the tendon to its native footprint rather than simply burying a shortened tendon in a trough.

The CT cortical thicknesses (roughly 13 mm to one cortex, 15 mm bicortical) and the radial head diameter of about 23 mm are practical reference numbers for fixation depth and radial head implant sizing.

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|

The Anatomy of the Bicipital Tuberosity and Distal Biceps Tendon.

Mazzocca, Romeo·J Shoulder Elbow Surg·2007·158 citations·Shoulder & Elbow
DOI·PubMed
SummaryAbstract on PubMed →

This cadaveric study maps the osteology of the bicipital tuberosity and the distal biceps tendon insertion footprint. It combines 178 dried radii, CT imaging of 48 specimens, and dissection of 18 fresh elbows. The goal is to guide distal biceps repair and proximal radius reconstruction.

Study Snapshot

Design
Cadaveric anatomic study
Setting: Hamann-Todd Collection; two university labs
Funding: Industry (Arthrex)
Objective
Whether the external and internal osteology of the bicipital tuberosity relates to the distal biceps insertion footprint.
Outcome(s)
Tuberosity dimensions, ridge morphology, and tendon insertion footprint
Subjects
178 dried radii, 48 CT, 18 fresh elbows
Inclusion
  • Dried cadaveric radii
  • Fresh-frozen cadaveric elbows
Statistics
Levene test for variances

Key Findings

  • The distal biceps tendon inserts as a ribbon-shaped footprint on the ulnar aspect of the tuberosity, measuring roughly 14 mm long by 2 mm wide. It occupies 63% of the length and only 13% of the width of the tuberosity, and critically does not cover the ridge.
  • The tuberosity ridge morphology is variable and was classified for the first time:
    –Single ridge: 88% (small 41%, medium 47%, large 12%)
    –Smooth / no ridge: 6%
    –Bifid: 6%
  • The authors never encountered the smooth type in a patient with a rupture.
  • The tendon passes over the ridge to reach its footprint, and the authors propose this ridge acts as a pulley that increases the mechanical advantage of the biceps. Repairs that shorten the tendon into a bony trough may theoretically reduce this advantage.
  • Mean bicipital tuberosity dimensions were 22 mm long and 15 mm wide, with a mean radial head diameter of 23 mm. These give surgeons reference values for reconstruction and radial head implant sizing.
  • CT defined the cortical distances for tunnel or button fixation:
    –Coronal unicortical (anterior cortex only): 13 mm
    –Coronal bicortical: 15 mm
    –Sagittal bicortical: 16 mm
  • No anatomic measurement correlated with age, sex, or race (P > .05), so these reference dimensions apply broadly across patients.
Board PearlThe distal biceps inserts as a ribbon on the ulnar aspect of the tuberosity and does not cover the ridge, which acts as a pulley.

Clinical Relevance

When you repair a distal biceps rupture, the target is the ulnar aspect of the tuberosity, not the ridge or the center of the bone. This paper defines that footprint precisely: a narrow ribbon covering about 63% of tuberosity length and only 13% of its width. Knowing this shapes where you place your bone tunnel, anchor, or cortical button.

The authors frame a mechanistic model for rupture. A prominent tuberosity edge erodes the tendon during rotation, and the interosseous space narrows about 50% in pronation, both stressing the tendon under load.

The ridge acts as a pulley to boost biceps mechanical advantage, which is the anatomic argument for restoring the tendon to its native footprint rather than simply burying a shortened tendon in a trough.

The CT cortical thicknesses (roughly 13 mm to one cortex, 15 mm bicortical) and the radial head diameter of about 23 mm are practical reference numbers for fixation depth and radial head implant sizing.

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