|
| Study | Treatment | Outcome |
|
| Conwell [11] | Open, debridement, no repair, splinting | Good outcome reported |
| Gilcrest [10] | Surgical repair with primary reattachment using catgut suture and fascial flap | Unreported |
| Tobin et al. [12] | Unreported | Unreported |
| Heckman & Levine [1] | Nonoperative group: hematoma aspiration, splinting for 6 weeks in acute flexion. Operative group: open, debridement, primary repair, splinted in acute flexation for 4 weeks, then 90° flexation for 2 weeks, followed by gentle ROM | 53% return of elbow flexion in the nonoperative group vs. 76.5% in the operative group. One wound infection was reported. No complications in the nonoperative group |
| Mellen [13] | Open, exploration, hematoma evacuation, excision of intraluminal thrombus, brachial artery grafting and repair, no biceps repair performed | Skin breakdown and superficial wound infection reported. Visible and palpable defect persisted |
| DiChristina & Lustig [7] | Open, primary repair, 3 weeks in splint | Full ROM, 5/5 strength at 4 months |
| Bricknell [14] | Closed, 4 weeks in sling | Visible and palpable defect persisted, no functional deficit compared to contralateral side |
| Balkissoon et al. [15] | Nonoperative | Unreported |
| Craig & Lee [3] | Unreported | Unreported |
| Kragh & Basamania [6] | Nonoperative: sling & NSAIDs. Operative: open, debridement, primary repair, 3-5 day immobility followed by dynamic splinting with extension limited to 30° with early active ROM | All patients returned to full ROM. No complications, job changes, or poor functional outcomes reported. Patients disliked the Popeye deformity. Nonoperative patients regained 65% of contralateral supination/flexion compared with 89% of those repaired operatively |
| Shah & Pruzansky [9] | Open, debridement, primary repair, postoperative splinting for 4 weeks, followed by hinged bracing for 6 weeks | Full ROM, 5/5 strength at 5 months |
| Carmichael et al. [8] | Open, debridement, no repair | Full ROM, 5/5 strength at 8 months |
| Chen & Chew [16] | Nonoperative, cast immobilization for 6 weeks in hyperflexed supinated position | Satisfactory cosmetic and functional results were reported |
|
