Abstract
Pectoralis major tendon rupture is a relatively rare injury, resulting from violent, eccentric contraction of the muscle. Over fifty percent of these injuries occur in athletes classically in weight-lifters during bench press. In this study, thirteen cases of distal rupture of the pectoralis major muscle in athletes are presented. All patients underwent surgical repair.
Physical findings and surgical technique are described. Magnetic resonance imaging was used in the diagnosis of all patients and intra-operative findings correlated with the reported scans in eleven patients with minor differences in two patients. During follow up examination, six patients had excellent results, six had good results and one had a fair result. Eleven patients could return to sports activity at their preoperative level.
Among our patients we emphasize that of an orthopaedic resident who suffered a rupture of his pectoralis major tendon as an unusual complication of closed manipulation of an anterior shoulder dislocation.
According to the literature and our experience, we suggest that only surgical repair of the pectoralis major rupture will result in complete recovery and restoration of the full strength of the muscle which is essential for the active athlete.
The abstracts were prepared by Secretary Mr K Trimble.
