Isolated Avulsion Fracture of the Lesser Tuberosity of the Humerus - A Case Report -

Tae-Ho Kim; Ki-Do Hong; Sung-Sik Ha; Jae-Chun Sim; Min-Chul Sung

doi:10.12671/jkfs.2014.27.1.72

Journal List > J Korean Fract Soc > v.27(1) > 1038013

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Kim, Hong, Ha, Sim, and Sung: Isolated Avulsion Fracture of the Lesser Tuberosity of the Humerus - A Case Report -

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2014; 27(1): 72-76.

Published online: 17 January 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2014.27.1.72

Isolated Avulsion Fracture of the Lesser Tuberosity of the Humerus - A Case Report -

Tae-Ho Kim, M.D., Ki-Do Hong, M.D., Sung-Sik Ha, M.D., Jae-Chun Sim, M.D., Min-Chul Sung, M.D.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sahmyook Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Ki-Do Hong, M.D. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sahmyook Medical Center, 82 Mangu-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-711, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2210-3580, Fax: 82-2-2217-1897, oskimth@naver.com

Received 13 September 2013 Revised 17 October 2013 Accepted 5 November 2013

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Isolated avulsion of the lesser tuberosity of the humerus is a rare injury. The mechanism of injury is the avulsion of the lesser tuberosity from forced contractions of the subscapularis muscle when the arm is forced into an externally rotated position on shoulder abduction. Authors report a case for isolated avulsion of the lesser tuberosity of the humerus which was treated with open reduction and transosseous suture fixation, as well as a view of the literature.

Keywords: Humerus, Lesser tuberosity, Avulsion fracture

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Preoperative radiographs. (A) Anteroposterior view shows blunting of the inferior glenoid in right shoulder with an area of increased opacity. (B) Axillary lateral view shows a bony avulsion of the lesser tuberosity in right shoulder.

Fig. 2

Preoperative computed tomography shows an avulsion of the lesser tuberosity in right shoulder. (A) Axial view. (B) Coronal view. (C) Three-dimensional view.

Fig. 3

Arthroscopic view showing avulsion of the lesser tuberosity in right shoulder with intact biceps tendon. Arrow: lesser tuberosity bony fragments. HH: Humeral head, B: Biceps long head.

Fig. 4

Photograph of the operation field. (A) Avulsion of the lesser tuberosity at exploration. (B) Reattachment of the lesser tuberosity with transosseous sutures. Arrow: lesser tuberosity bony fragment. HH: Humeral head, B: Biceps brachii.

Fig. 5

Computed tomography 4 days postoperatively shows the reduced bony fragments. (A) Axial view. (B) Coronal view.

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