Massive rotator cuff tear in an adolescent athlete: a case report

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Pediatric Sports Injuries

Background:

• Full-thickness rotator cuff tears are uncommon in young athletes.
• These injuries often result from acute trauma in contact sports, distinct from overuse injuries in throwing athletes.
• Symptoms can be misattributed to less severe shoulder injuries, delaying diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of considering rotator cuff tears in the differential diagnosis of acute shoulder injuries in young athletes.
• To present a case of a massive rotator cuff tear in an adolescent athlete.
• To demonstrate successful prompt diagnosis and management.

Main Methods:

• Case report presentation.
• Review of clinical presentation and diagnostic findings.
• Description of surgical and non-surgical management strategies.

Main Results:

• The case involved an adolescent athlete with a traumatic, massive rotator cuff tear.
• Prompt diagnosis and timely intervention led to an excellent outcome.
• Early recognition prevented the tear from progressing to an irreparable state.

Conclusions:

• Rotator cuff tears should be included in the differential diagnosis for acute shoulder injuries in young athletes.
• Timely diagnosis and management are critical for favorable outcomes in these rare injuries.
• Adolescent athletes with acute shoulder trauma require thorough evaluation to rule out rotator cuff tears.