What are the patient-reported outcomes, functional limitations, and complications after lesser tuberosity fractures? a systematic review of 172 patients

Evaluation and Management of Pediatric Proximal Humerus Greater and Lesser Tuberosity Avulsion Fractures

Proximal humerus fractures account for 2% of fractures in skeletally immature patients. Avulsion fractures of the lesser and greater tuberosity are a rare subset of these injuries. Lack of awareness of these fracture types and subtle radiographic findings can result in delayed diagnosis and treatment. Case reports provide most of the current literature, and thus common injury mechanisms, clinical presentation, and ideal treatment time frame and modality are still undetermined. There are limited data directly comparing outcomes with nonsurgical or surgical management leading to unclear treatment guidelines. Presently, techniques for management of these injuries continue to evolve. Although these injuries represent a subset of pediatric proximal humerus injuries, they must be considered when evaluating a child with atraumatic and traumatic shoulder pain.

Bilateral Proximal Humerus Lesser Tuberosity Avulsions in an Adolescent Patient: A Case Report

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.

Clinical, Diagnostic, and Therapeutic Characteristics of Posterior Glenohumeral Instability

Posterior shoulder instability (PSI) is a shoulder pathology that is challenging to diagnose, leading to treatment delay and exacerbation of symptoms. Etiology can be both traumatic and atraumatic, and a comprehensive clinical history plays a significant role in achieving diagnosis. Imaging in the setting of PSI can reveal a reverse-Bankart lesion, a reverse Hill-Sachs lesion, posterior labral cysts, and potentially glenoid or lesser tuberosity fractures. Both conservative and surgical options exist for patients with PSI, and management often depends on case severity, extent of bone loss, and patient goals and expectations. Holistic patient education regarding the etiologies, mechanisms and possible treatment options available is pivotal for achieving high levels of patient satisfaction and optimal outcomes.

Simultaneous isolated avulsion fractures of the lesser tuberosities of the humeri: A rare occurrence secondary to alcohol withdrawal seizures

Fractures of the lesser tuberosity of the humerus are typically traumatic in nature, most commonly occurring in association with multi-part fractures of the humeral head, often in the setting of a posterior shoulder dislocation. Isolated fractures of the lesser tuberosity are considerably more rare and are difficult to diagnose on standard shoulder radiographs without an axillary view. These fractures have been associated with 3 main types of injury: acute abduction/external rotation injury, acute injury or repetitive stress injury in adolescent overhead or throwing athletes, and rarely as a seizure associated injury. The mechanism of injury in these cases has been posited to relate to the subscapularis tendon, either resisting forced abduction/external rotation in the setting of trauma, exerting chronic or acute avulsive traction in the setting of adolescent overhead or throwing athletes, or violently contracting and avulsing the lesser tuberosity in the setting of seizures. We present an unusual case of a 27-year-old male with a history of alcohol use disorder with bilateral shoulder pain after minor trauma and observed seizure-like activity. Clinical work-up revealed bilateral isolated avulsion fractures of the lesser tuberosities, which was thought to be on the basis of seizure-related violent contraction of the subscapularis muscles. The clinical relevance of this case is that a high clinical index of suspicion is needed in order to detect lesser tuberosity avulsion fractures and avoid the consequences of untreated injury such as instability or impingement.