Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Teres major transfer to restore external rotation of shoulder in Erb palsy patients
Ashraf M Abdelaziz1, Wael Aldahshan1, Faisal Ahmed Hashem Elsherief1
1Alzhraa University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Background:
The lack of external rotation and shoulder abduction as sequelae of obstetric brachial plexus palsy requires a release of the subscapularis muscle associated with tendon transfer of the internal rotator of the shoulder. The aim of this study was to present the results of a teres major transfer to the infraspinatus tendon.
Methods:
This study included 20 patients (9 boys and 11 girls) with a mean age of 3 years 8 months (range, 1.5-14 years). The average follow-up time was 42 months (range, 12-48 months) to determine whether external rotation weakness and internal rotation contracture sequelae were managed by anterior release of the subscapularis and teres major tendon transfer to the infraspinatus tendon.
Results:
We found marked improvement in shoulder abduction from 67° before surgery to 158° after surgery. We also found marked improvements in active external rotation from 8° before surgery to 85° after surgery and in passive external rotation from 0° preoperatively to 72° postoperatively. Two cases showed a loss of the last degrees of internal rotation, but this improved after physiotherapy.
Conclusions:
Anterior release of the subscapularis tendon with a teres major transfer to the infraspinatus tendon significantly improves shoulder function in Erb palsy patients with internal rotation contracture.
More Related Videos
07:22Arthroscopic Management of Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: Whole Rotator Cable Reconstruction Using Proximal Biceps Tendon Autograft
Published on: June 6, 2025
04:27Anterior Capsular Reconstruction with Human Dermal Allograft for Irreparable Subscapularis Tears
Published on: May 9, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Muscles of the Shoulder
Anterior Thoracic Muscles
The anterior thoracic muscles include the serratus anterior, subclavius, and...
Muscles that Move the Arm
The pectoralis major has two origins. Its clavicular head originates on the medial half of the clavicle. In contrast, the sternocostal head originates on the costal cartilages of ribs 1-6, the sternum, and the aponeurosis of the external oblique of the...
Bones of the Upper Limb: Humerus
Muscles that Move the Forearm
Forearm Flexors
The biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis are forearm flexors. The biceps brachii is made up of two heads. Its long head originates at the supraglenoid tubercle of the scapula, whereas that of the short head is...
Muscle Coordination and Action
Agonists
Agonist muscles, often called prime movers, are the primary muscles responsible for producing a specific movement....