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Teres minor tendon tear

Case contributed by Carlos Ignacio Canet
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Right shoulder pain after a fall.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Male
mri

Interstitial edema and fluid signal at the myotendinous junction of the teres minor muscle extending to the free tendon. Posterior capsular and posterior band glenohumeral ligament edema.

Subcortical bone edema on the anteroinferior aspect of the humeral head and lesser tuberosity. Anterosuperior subcortical humeral fracture.

Supraspinatus tendinosis.

Case Discussion

Teres minor tears occur in the setting of massive rotator cuff tears. When massive cuff tears involve the teres minor, the tear may be found in the context of chronic tears of other tendons leading to a stress-induced tear of the teres minor, or the injury may be the result of severe acute trauma sufficient to result in tears of multiple cuff tendons.

However, there is an association of posterior shoulder dislocations, which is possible in this case with the history of trauma, and isolated teres minor tears without other rotator cuff injuries. In this setting, associated posterior capsular tears are often found.

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