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Patient presented to the radiology department after falling onto their left elbow while walking on rocks. The patient symptoms included an acute onset of pain and loss of power on extension. The ultrasound scan demonstrated an avulsion fracture fragment displaced 4cm proximally from the olecranon process and retraction of the long head of the triceps tendon. There was an extensive partial thickness tear of the medial head of the triceps tendon with intact deep fibres and a large haematoma.
Although a surgical approach is the usual treatment for this injury, the patient opted for a conservative approach. On orthopaedic follow up, the patient had improved strength and movement.
Avulsion of the triceps tendon is the most uncommon of all tendon injuries. A triceps tendon rupture represents only 2% of all tendon ruptures. A rupture may be partial or complete, with or without an olecranon fracture. The most common mechanisms of injury are a fall onto an outstretched hand or a direct impact.
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