Subscapularis Avulsion in a 12-Year-Old Wrestler

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pediatric Sports Medicine
• Traumatology

Background:

• Traumatic rotator cuff injuries are rare in children.
• Isolated subscapularis injuries with lesser tuberosity avulsion fractures are seldom reported, often requiring surgical intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a case of a 12-year-old wrestler with a subscapularis injury and lesser tuberosity avulsion.
• To describe the surgical management and outcomes of this rare pediatric shoulder injury.

Main Methods:

• A 12-year-old male with shoulder pain underwent MRI, revealing a subscapularis tear with lesser tuberosity avulsion.
• Diagnostic arthroscopy was converted to an open repair using all-suture anchors for the avulsed fragment.

Main Results:

• The open subscapularis repair was performed without complications.
• The patient regained full shoulder range of motion by 12 weeks and returned to sports at 6 months post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Open surgical repair of pediatric subscapularis tears with lesser tuberosity avulsion can yield excellent outcomes.
• Successful management allows for a return to pre-injury levels of athletic activity.