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Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Bilateral Proximal Humerus Lesser Tuberosity Avulsions in an Adolescent Patient: A Case Report
Jared Nowell1, William Cutchen2, Anthony Dure3
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.
Case:
Fourteen-year-old boy presented with bilateral proximal humerus lesser tuberosity avulsions after swinging between 2 desks. Injuries were not visualized on radiographs but identified on magnetic resonance imaging. He underwent bilateral open reduction and internal fixation of the bony avulsions. Following repair, he returned to full activities, including sports, without limitations.
Conclusion:
Lesser tuberosity avulsions are rare injuries in the pediatric population that can be missed. Our case is a low energy noncontact mechanism resulting in bilateral injury, highlighting the importance of having a high index of suspicion for this diagnosis in adolescent patients with shoulder pain with normal radiographs.
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