The estimated national incidence of surgically repaired distal biceps tendon ruptures between 2006 and 2010 was 2.55 per 100,000 patients per year. During this same time period, total volumes of distal biceps tendon repairs increased yearly at a compound annual growth rate of 2.5%.
Approximately two-thirds of the distal biceps tendon ruptures occurred in patients between the ages of 35 and 54. Men accounted for 95% of the distal biceps tendon ruptures in the national database. A forced hyperextension of the arm was involved in 79% of the cases. These activities included waterskiing, golf, wrestling, basketball, and riding a mechanical bull. Smoking and an elevated body mass index (BMI) seem to increase the risk of injury.
Source: American Journal of Sports Medicine, published online June 10, 2015
