Distal Biceps Ruptures in National Football League Players: Return to Play and Performance Analysis.

Abstract: Background Distal biceps ruptures are rare injuries that tend to occur younger in high level athletic populations. There is a lack of data analyzing athletes ability to return to play, and performance, after surgery for a distal biceps rupture. Methods All National Football League players from seasons 2000-2016 that were found to have a surgically treated distal biceps rupture were included. Performance analysis and career length was conducted with a position, age, experience, and performance statistics matched control group. Data for cohort versus control, and pre-injury vs post-injury were analyzed with paired-samples Student t-test with a value of p less than 0.05. Results Thirty-five NFL players were identified for the study and 33 were able to return to sport (94%) at an average of 351.4 (+/- 123.9) days. Offensive lineman undergoing surgery played less games per season compared to the control group p = 0.04). However, average seasons post surgery and post index was not found to not be significant (p > 0.05). Mean career length, or games per season, did not differ for post-surgical versus control group (p >0.05) for all other positions. Performance scores within skill players did not prove to be significant between postoperative and control groups (p> 0.05). Conclusions Distal biceps ruptures treated surgically in NFL players allow for return to play at a high rate. Level of performance post-surgery is similar to performance of the player pre-injury. On average NFL career length does not appear to be affected after distal biceps surgery. Level of evidence Level III; Case-Control Design; Prognosis Study