Surgical Repair of Dynamic Snapping Biceps Femoris Tendon

Abstract

A snapping biceps tendon is an infrequently seen and commonly misdiagnosed pathology, leaving patients with persistent symptoms that can be debilitating. Patients will present with a visible, audible, and/or painful snap over the lateral aspect of their knee when performing squats, sitting in low seats, or participating in activities with deep knee flexion. A thorough knowledge of the anatomy is essential for surgical treatment of this pathology, which is caused by a detachment of the direct arms of the long and short heads of the biceps femoris off the fibular styloid. This Technical Note provides a diagnostic approach, postoperative management, and details of a surgical technique to treat a snapping biceps tendon with an anatomic repair of the long and short head attachments of the biceps femoris to the posterolateral fibular styloid.