为何建议进行此手术¶
Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton 的上肢外科医生 Kieran Hirpara 医生会根据您的具体伤情制定治疗方案。肱三头肌是位于肘部后侧、用于伸直手臂的肌腱。当它从骨骼上完全撕裂时,通常需要手术来恢复该运动功能。该手术称为远端肱三头肌修复术,旨在重新连接撕裂的肌腱。
患者通常由全科医生(GP)转诊至我们的诊所;如果物理治疗师建议您就诊,您仍需获得全科医生的转诊,才有资格享受 Medicare 报销。我们将评估您的病史,检查您的肘部,并在必要时安排影像学检查以确诊。
对于部分撕裂,可先尝试非手术治疗,如物理治疗。若改善效果不足,或撕裂为完全性,则需进行手术。该手术通常推荐给活跃人群、重度使用手臂的劳动者以及希望重返赛场的运动员。修复旨在恢复力量和功能,大多数人在约 2.2 个月后重返工作岗位,89.3% 的人重返体育运动。
术前¶
您的外科医生将在制定修复方案前,通过影像学检查确认撕裂情况。这通常从X光检查开始,以显示是否有小骨片随肌腱撕脱。可能会使用磁共振成像(MRI)来仔细检查肌腱本身。
手术前,您需要提前七小时停止进食和饮水。我们要求七小时而非六小时,以便如果手术室手术排期提前,您的手术可以相应提前进行。您的外科医生会告知您哪些药物需要停用以及何时停用。请携带一份您正在服用的所有药物的书面清单。安排他人在术后驾车送您回家,并在手术当天穿着宽松舒适的衣物。如果您有其他基础疾病,可能需要进行血液检查或由麻醉科医生进行评估。
手术当天¶
您将抵达医院的手术入院病区,在那里办理入院手续并做术前准备。随后,您将与麻醉医生见面,该医生负责在手术期间让您进入睡眠状态并管理您的疼痛。本手术在全身麻醉下进行。有时会追加区域神经阻滞以缓解术后疼痛;麻醉医生将在当天就此与您讨论。随后,您将被带入手术室,在那里进行修复手术。
术后,您将在复苏区苏醒,护士会密切观察您,直至麻醉作用消退。一旦您的生命体征稳定,根据手术类型及您的恢复情况,您将被转入病房或回家。如果您当天回家,则需要您之前安排的人员驾车送您。
手术内容¶
肱三头肌腱附着于肘关节处一小块骨面上。在完全撕裂的情况下,肌腱已从该骨面剥离,类似于绳索从其锚固点松脱。手术的目的是将肌腱重新缝合固定到其所属的骨面上。
外科医生会在肘关节后方做一个切口以暴露撕裂的肌腱。随后,使用植入骨内的小锚钉,配合能够承受张力的强力缝线,将肌腱重新固定到其在骨上的天然附着点。这恢复了肌腱附着的正常形态和位置,从而赋予修复结构其强度。
部分修复采用一种技术,用两排锚钉覆盖整个附着区域,类似于用两条平行线缝合裤脚边。另一些则使用完全由缝线材料制成的锚钉,其固定肌腱的牢固程度与标准锚钉相当。您的外科医生将根据您的损伤情况选择合适的方法。
一旦肌腱固定牢固,外科医生会检查修复部位的活动是否顺畅,然后用缝线关闭切口并敷料包扎。您将保持该敷料约10天,具体说明见恢复章节。
手术本身在概念上很直接:将撕裂的肌腱拉回骨面并牢固固定,使其能够愈合。接下来的情况,包括您能多快活动和使用该手臂,将在随后的恢复章节中介绍。
术后¶
您将在恢复区苏醒,随着麻醉药效消退,护士会密切观察您的状况。您的手臂将佩戴简单的悬吊带以提供舒适感。肘关节不会被固定;早期即可开始轻柔活动。镇痛方案将根据您的个体情况定制,护士会确保您感到舒适。回家后,前24小时应有人陪伴。您的医疗团队会告知您是当天出院还是在医院留观一晚。我们通常会保留敷料约10天;除非我们指示,否则在此之前请勿自行拆除。我们会在复诊时为您更换或拆除敷料。大多数患者在手术当天即可行走和活动,但动作应轻柔。
恢复¶
最初几天,您的肘部会感到疼痛和肿胀。这种情况会逐渐缓解。休息、坐着时抬高手部以及服用为您开具的止痛药都有助于恢复。您的手臂会佩戴一个简单的吊带以提供舒适感,但肘部不会被固定制动,且会尽早开始轻柔的活动。
手部治疗是您恢复过程中的重要组成部分。您的治疗师是 Extend Rehabilitation 的 Ruby Doolan。Ruby 是一名手部治疗师:她指导您的锻炼并制作您可能需要的支具。早期,重点在于保护修复部位,同时让您的肘部恢复活动度。随着肌腱愈合,锻炼强度会逐渐增加,以恢复在阻力下伸直手臂的力量。
在日常生活中,在修复部位稳定期间,您需用另一只手处理家中轻度的任务。在手臂佩戴吊带期间,您不得驾驶车辆。在再次驾驶之前,您需要能够双手握住方向盘并在紧急制动时做出反应,且体内未服用强效止痛药。我们的指南 上肢手术后的驾驶 对此有更详细的说明。
恢复里程碑以事件而非具体日期为标志。一旦肿胀消退,弯曲和伸直会感觉更轻松。当您的治疗师批准您进行力量训练时,您开始对手臂进行负重。大多数人会恢复到受伤前同等强度的工作和运动。您的时间表可能有所不同;您的外科医生和 Ruby 将为您提供指导。
可能出现的并发症¶
大多数患者恢复良好,但偶尔也会出现问题。您的外科医生和医疗团队会密切监测您的状况,以便尽早发现任何问题。
最严重的问题是修复部位再次撕裂。您可能会感到肘部后方突然发出“啪”的一声或感觉突然失效,随后在尝试对抗阻力伸直手臂时感到无力。有些人会注意到肘尖处出现肿胀和瘀青,感觉类似于肌腱最初撕裂时的状态。如果发生这种情况,请立即联系诊所。您的外科医生将检查肘部并安排影像学检查,以确认修复是否牢固。
一些并发症可能出现在伤口本身周围。请留意疼痛是否持续加重而非缓解、红肿是否从伤口向外扩散,或有液体透过敷料渗出。如果伴随发烧或整体不适感,这些迹象同样重要。如果您注意到上述任何情况,请在当天联系诊所,不要等到下次复诊。
偶尔,修复可能需要进一步手术。这可能是由于肌腱再次撕裂,或者修复的其他方面未按预期愈合。您通常会通过持续的疼痛、无力或感觉肘部恢复不如预期而察觉到这一点。请在复诊时提出此问题,如果情况明显异常,请尽早联系我们。
从这些并发症中恢复可能需要比原计划更长的时间,有些人可能需要比最初预期更长的时间远离工作或正常活动。如果这影响到您,您的外科医生会向您解释发生了什么以及接下来的步骤。
如果您想了解具体数据,本页上的并发症表格列出了典型的并发症发生率。
何时联系我们¶
大多数恢复过程都很顺利,但某些迹象需要迅速处理。如果您出现发烧,或伤口周围的发红或分泌物持续增加,请致电我们。如果您在伸直手臂时突然感到“啪”的一声并伴有无力感,请立即致电我们;如果是在非工作时间,请前往急诊科。如果您出现肘部突然剧烈疼痛,且服用止痛药后仍无法缓解,请前往急诊。如果您的小腿出现肿胀或疼痛,或出现呼吸急促,请前往急诊。如果您手臂或手部失去感觉,或无法活动肢体,请前往急诊。
Evidence & references
This is the clinical evidence summary written for health professionals. It is technical, and it lists the research this page was built from. You do not need to read it to understand your treatment or to make a decision about it.
Anatomy & Pathophysiology¶
Bony Anatomy¶
- The elbow is a trocho-ginglymoid joint consisting of medial and lateral articulations that provide bony stability [3].
- The trochlea articulates with the ulna within the greater sigmoid notch to form the ulnohumeral, hinged, or trochoid portion of the elbow joint [3].
- The ulnohumeral articulation provides highly congruent anatomy through almost 180° of articular contact [3].
- The greater sigmoid notch of the ulna contains a bare area devoid of cartilage [3].
- The coronoid process has medial and lateral facets that buttress the trochlea anteriorly [3].
- The sublime tubercle is located just distal and medial to the coronoid and serves as the attachment site for the anterior bundle of the medial ulnar collateral ligament [3].
- The medial epicondyle is larger and more posteriorly oriented than the lateral epicondyle [3].
- The capitellum and radial head form the radiocapitellar joint [3].
- The radius is held in close approximation to the ulna at the proximal radioulnar joint by the annular ligament [3].
- The lesser sigmoid notch is the area of the ulna that articulates with the margin of the radial head at the proximal radioulnar joint [3].
- The radial head is a concave elliptical structure covered with articular cartilage along the radiocapitellar joint and approximately 270° of the articular margin [3].
- The lateral epicondyle is the origin of the lateral extensor musculature [3].
- The origin of the lateral ulnar collateral ligament complex is located just distal to the lateral epicondyle at the geometric center of the radiocapitellar articulation [3].
- The distal humeral articulation is angled 30° from the longitudinal axis [3].
- The anterior humeral line should pass through the center of the axis of rotation [3].
- The axis of rotation is angulated 5° to 7° in the coronal plane relative to the epicondylar axis, with the medial side more distal than the lateral side [3].
- The olecranon provides a broad attachment site for the triceps [3].
- The ulna bends approximately 8° medially at 8 cm from the tip of the olecranon [3].
- The articulation to the tip of the coronoid is approximately 30° from the long axis of the ulna in the sagittal plane [3].
Ligaments and Soft Tissue¶
- The medial ulnar collateral ligament is comprised of the anterior bundle, posterior bundle, and transverse ligament [2].
- The anterior bundle of the medial ulnar collateral ligament is the strongest component and the primary restraint to valgus stress [2].
- The anterior bundle of the medial ulnar collateral ligament is subdivided into anterior and posterior bands that provide reciprocal function, with the anterior band tight in extension and the posterior band tight in flexion [2].
- The lateral ulnar collateral ligament origin center is 10.7 mm from the lateral epicondyle [2].
- The lateral ulnar collateral ligament insertion is 3.3 mm from the apex of the supinator crest [2].
- The triceps muscle insertions have three distinct insertional areas to the olecranon: posterior capsular insertion, deep muscular portion, and superficial tendinous portion [2].
- The deep muscular head of the triceps corresponds to the medial head of the triceps [2].
- The superficial tendinous portion of the triceps corresponds to the long and lateral heads [2].
- The width of the triceps insertion is 2.6 cm [2].
- The triceps insertion is located 1.1 cm from the tip of the olecranon [2].
- The primary elbow extensor, the triceps, inserts on the olecranon process [4].
- The brachialis is the strongest elbow flexor and attaches to the coronoid 11 mm distal to the tip [4].
- The biceps brachii inserts at the ulnar margin of the radial tuberosity, with the long head inserting proximally and the short head distally [4].
- The biceps brachii is a powerful supinator of the forearm [4].
- The mobile wad consists of the brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis longus, and extensor carpi radialis brevis [4].
- The flexor-pronator mass consists of the pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, and flexor digitorum superficialis [4].
- Tensile forces are present at the medial elbow while compressive forces are present at the lateral elbow [4].
- The elbow capsule allows maximum distension at approximately 70 to 80 degrees of flexion [4].
- The anterior capsule attaches at a point approximately 6 mm distal to the tip of the coronoid [4].
- The coronoid tip is an intraarticular structure visualized during elbow arthroscopy [4].
- The medial or ulnar collateral ligament is the primary valgus stabilizer [4].
- The anterior bundle of the medial ulnar collateral ligament is the most important component for stability [4].
- The posterior bundle of the medial ulnar collateral ligament has the greatest change in length and becomes taut at flexion beyond 120 degrees [4].
- The lateral ulnar collateral ligament is the posterolateral stabilizer [4].
- Osborne’s ligament stabilizes the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel [4].
- The ligament of Struthers is a variant anatomy arising from the supracondylar process to attach to the medial epicondyle and is a potential site of median nerve compression [4].
Biomechanics and Motion¶
- The normal elbow has a range of motion from 0° to 140° from extension to flexion [1].
- The normal elbow has a range of motion of 75° in pronation and 85° in supination [1].
- A functional arc for flexion and extension is 100° [1].
- A functional arc for forearm rotation is 100° [1].
- Elbow stability is determined by primary and secondary stabilizers [1].
- The three primary stabilizers of the elbow are the ulnohumeral articulation, the medial ulnar collateral ligament, and the lateral ulnar collateral ligament complex [1].
- Secondary stabilizers of the elbow include the radiocapitellar articulation, the common flexor tendon, the common extensor tendon, and the joint capsule [1].
Investigations¶
Physical Examination¶
- The physical examination of the elbow is directed by the history and the location of the patient's pain in the anterior, posterior, medial, or lateral aspect [1].
- Active and passive flexion, extension, supination, and pronation should be evaluated using a goniometer for accurate measurement [9].
- The contralateral elbow should be examined for comparison during range of motion assessment [9].
- If the elbow has less than 90° to 100° of flexion, the posterior bundle of the medial collateral ligament is contracted and must be released to restore flexion [9].
- Pain during the mid-arc of motion is more common with intrinsic disease and may not improve with contracture release alone [9].
- The ulnar nerve is of utmost importance in the physical examination due to its anatomic proximity to the elbow [9].
- The posterior bundle of the medial collateral ligament forms the floor of the cubital tunnel along the course of the ulnar nerve [9].
- Electromyography and nerve conduction velocity studies should be performed if there is any question about neurologic dysfunction [9].
- An assessment for ulnar nerve subluxation should be performed, as subluxation is a relative contraindication for an arthroscopic procedure secondary to possible iatrogenic nerve injury [9].
- The soft tissue surrounding the elbow should be examined for previous skin incisions, grafts, eschar, or infection [9].
Imaging¶
- Plain radiographs remain the hallmark and the best screening test for elbow evaluation [1].
- Standard radiographic views include AP, lateral, and oblique views [9].
- Serial radiography is used as follow-up when heterotopic ossification is present [9].
- Primary bony landmarks assessed on radiographs include the ulnohumeral joint, coronoid process, radial head, capitellum, radiocapitellar joint, olecranon tip, coronoid/olecranon fossae, and trochlear ridge [9].
- CT is helpful when assessing for malunion architecture and the location and pattern of osteophytes and/or loose bodies [9].
- Three-dimensional CT is used to check for heterotopic ossification [9].
- CT is not necessary when the stiffness is entirely soft-tissue related [9].
- CT is beneficial if any joint incongruity or abnormal bony anatomy is present [9].
- MRI can be used to evaluate ligaments and tendons, but it is rarely indicated for elbow stiffness [9].
- AP, lateral, oblique, and axillary views of the elbow may reveal posteromedial olecranon osteophytes and/or loose bodies in valgus extension overload syndrome [11].
- CT with two-dimensional reconstruction and three-dimensional surface rendering best visualizes the pathology of valgus extension overload syndrome [11].
- MRI may be most helpful in evaluating associated injuries including partial or complete tears of the medial collateral ligament in valgus extension overload syndrome [11].
- Radiographic evaluations are essential when diagnosing an osteochondritis dissecans lesion of the elbow [12].
- Important aspects of osteochondritis dissecans lesions may be better seen with MRI [12].
References¶
[1] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 13 Ebook Without Multimedia. Anatomy, Biomechanics, Physical Examination, and Imaging of the Elbow > Summary and Conclusions.
[2] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 13 Ebook Without Multimedia. Anatomy, Biomechanics, Physical Examination, and Imaging of the Elbow > Annotated References.
[3] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 13 Ebook Without Multimedia. Anatomy, Biomechanics, Physical Examination, and Imaging of the Elbow > Anatomy > Bony Anatomy.
[4] Miller S Review Of Orthopaedics. SECTION 16 PATELLAR TRACKING IN TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY > TABLE 2.3 Shoulder Spaces.
[9] Aaos Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review 3. Elbow Stiffness* > IV. Evaluation.
[11] Aaos Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review 3. Elbow Injuries in the Athlete* > III. Valgus Extension Overload Syndrome and Posterior Impingement.
[12] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update. Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee and Elbow* > Summary.
