Presentation
Fall from the ladder with pain on passive external rotation and limited internal rotation.
Patient Data
Avulsion fracture of lesser tuberosity displaced caudal to the glenoid with lipoemarthrosis (yellow arrow).
Avulsion fracture of lesser tuberosity humerus, normal joint position, no widening or narrowing of joint space.
3D reconstruction better defines the size and displacement of fragment.
Case Discussion
Avulsion fracture lesser tuberosity of the humerus usually occurs in association with fractures involving two or three parts of the proximal humerus or in association with a posterior fracture dislocation of the shoulder joint. The usual mechanism of injury resulting in an avulsion fracture is an abduction external rotation trauma of the shoulder. Because the subscapularis tendon is linked directly to the fractured fragment, avulsion causes insufficiency of the muscle-tendon unit.
Radiographer: TSRM Fabio Imola