What should you know about bicep tendon tear repair?

Bicep tendon tear repair reconnects a damaged tendon to restore useful arm function when symptoms, tear location and activity needs make surgery appropriate. Some tears are managed with rehabilitation instead, so imaging and an orthopaedic assessment guide the decision.

The biceps muscle bends the elbow and helps rotate the forearm. A tendon can tear near the shoulder or elbow, causing pain, bruising, weakness, cramping or a change in the muscle’s shape. The location and extent of the tear affect treatment choices.

During repair, the surgeon uses an incision or keyhole approach where suitable, prepares the tendon and secures it to bone or nearby tissue. Anaesthetic, surgical technique and rehabilitation plans vary with the injury and your health.

Before treatment, tell the surgical team about medicines, allergies, smoking, diabetes and previous anaesthetic problems. Arrange help with washing, dressing, driving and household tasks while arm movement is restricted. Rehabilitation usually progresses from protection and gentle movement to strengthening; follow the surgeon and physiotherapist’s limits rather than testing the repair early.

After surgery, contact the care team for increasing wound redness, drainage, fever, uncontrolled pain, new numbness, a cold or discoloured hand, or sudden loss of movement. Seek urgent help for chest pain, breathing difficulty or severe allergic symptoms. A new injury or a sudden tearing sensation also needs prompt review.

Where is the tear and how extensive is it? What could rehabilitation achieve without surgery? Which repair method and anaesthetic are planned? How long will lifting be restricted? When can physiotherapy, driving and work activities resume, and which warning signs require urgent contact?