Pectoralis Major Tendon Rupture While Bouldering.

Pectoralis major tendon ruptures are rare injuries. We present a case of a pectoralis major tendon rupture incurred while bouldering that required surgical repair. The diagnosis of pectoralis major tendon rupture relies predominantly on clinical examination. Among athletes, outcomes after surgical repair are superior to those after nonoperative therapy in most cases of complete tendon rupture. Although infrequent, pectoralis major tendon ruptures can occur while climbing, and early recognition and expedited surgical treatment are paramount to maximize functional recovery.

Pectoralis Major Tendon Reconstruction: A Systematic Review.

Pectoralis major tendon injuries are an uncommon injury. They can be treated with primary repair, however, when the tendon becomes retracted it necessitates tendon reconstruction. We performed a systematic review to evaluate patient characteristics, surgical techniques, and outcomes associated with pectoralis major reconstruction. A review was performed for studies published between 1990 and 2019. Peer-reviewed studies with a minimum 1-year follow-up were included. Return to activity, range of motion, complications, and functional outcome scores were primary outcomes. Fourteen primary studies with 88 total patients met inclusion criteria. All patients were male with the average age of 34.6 years-old. Hamstring autograft represented the most frequently used graft type (35). Functional outcomes demonstrated good to excellent results in the majority of patients. Pectoralis major tendon reconstruction is a viable option for tears not amenable to primary repair. We found good to excellent outcomes, and 94.2% return to sport for patients undergoing reconstruction. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 31(2):123-126, 2022).

Pectoralis major ruptures.

Injuries of pectoralis major (PM) muscle are among rare muscle injuries. Due to the lack of experience and knowledge in this field, they are often missed or improperly treated. Most often they are caused by an indirect mechanism, during strength sports, typically using the bench press. In clinical terms, they are typically characterized by specific disorder of the anterior axillary fold and a hematoma and, after subsidence of the swelling, disfiguration with medial retraction of the muscle belly. The most beneficial imaging method to examine these injuries is MRI with an emphasis on a properly set protocol. According to the Cordasco classification, they are categorized as PM distensions, isolated and complete ruptures. Ruptures involve most frequently the musculotendinous junction and tendon insertion. Operative treatment is indicated in isolated complete ruptures of one portion and complete ruptures of both portions of the pectoralis major tendon, predominantly in young active patients with high functional demands. Surgery should be preferably performed without delay, within no more than 6 weeks, in order to ensure the best results. The most common operative technique is reinsertion of the muscle by means of implants or direct suture. In chronic ruptures, it is often necessary to perform a reconstruction with a tendon graft. The results are good, although worse as compared to an early treatment.

[Rupture of the pectoralis major muscle in amateur athletes: a rare injury or often overlooked?] / Die Ruptur des M. pectoralis major beim Hobbysportler ­ seltene Verletzung oder oft übersehen?

INTRODUCTION: A rupture of the pectoralis major muscle is a rare injury pattern overall, but it is frequently described in athletes, particularly in weightlifting. The risk of sustaining this type of injury is present especially during the eccentric phase of muscle loading. An association between such injuries and the abuse of anabolic steroids is described in the literature, but there is no coherent evidence to support this. We report the case of a young patient with a normal habitus who suffered a humeral rupture of the pectoralis major muscle during recreational sports. There was no history of excessive weight training or use of anabolic steroids. CASE HISTORY: This 33-year-old patient reported a sudden onset of left pectoral pain during training on the chest fly machine as well as a whip-like popping sound, followed by an immediate painful restriction of movement in the left arm. A clinical examination revealed a mild haematoma located on the left medial upper arm with localised tenderness and a discrete asymmetry of the contour of the pectoral muscles. Due to the typical medical history, we established the indication for surgical exploration although the clinical picture was rather discrete and only an incomplete rupture was seen in an MRI scan. Intraoperatively, we detected a complete rupture of the sternocostal part of the pectoralis major muscle with marked retraction and haematoma. Reinforcement and reinsertion were performed at the "footprint" using titanium anchors (2 x 5.5mm Corkscrew FT, Arthrex, Florida). The patient was able to resume his sports activities at the pre-traumatic level four months after surgery. CONCLUSION: A rupture of the insertion of the pectoralis major muscle must also be considered in amateur athletes with a typical history. The characteristic clinical symptoms described in the literature mostly refer to competitive athletes and bodybuilders, but these injuries can also be diagnosed in amateur athletes with lower muscle mass by subtle clinical examination. Nevertheless, there is a considerable risk of underestimating the extent of the injury. In case of doubt, surgical exploration should be performed promptly in amateur athletes. Surgical refixation of the humeral rupture of the pectoralis major muscle is the gold standard and should not be reserved to high-performance athletes.

Pectoralis muscle injuries in Major and Minor League Baseball.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Although shoulder and elbow injuries in professional baseball players have been thoroughly studied, little is known about the frequency and impact of pectoralis muscle injuries in this population. The purpose of this study was to use the official league injury surveillance system to describe pectoralis muscle injuries in professional baseball players in Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB). Specifically, (1) player demographic characteristics, (2) return to play (RTP), (3) injury mechanism, (4) throwing- and batting-side dominance, and (5) injury rate per athlete exposure (AE) were characterized to guide future injury prevention strategies. METHODS: The MLB Health and Injury Tracking System database was used to compile all pectoralis muscle injuries in MLB and MiLB athletes in the 2011-2017 seasons. Injury-related data including diagnosis (tear or rupture vs. strain), player demographic characteristics, injury timing, need for surgical intervention, RTP, and mechanism of injury were recorded. Subanalyses of throwing- and batting-side dominance, as well as MLB vs. MiLB injury frequency, were performed. RESULTS: A total of 138 pectoralis muscle injuries (32 MLB and 106 MiLB injuries) were reported in the study period (5 tears or ruptures and 133 strains), with 5 of these being recurrent injuries. Operative intervention was performed in 4 athletes (2.9%). Of the 138 injuries, 116 (84.1%) resulted in missed days of play, with a mean time to RTP of 19.5 days. Starting pitchers sustained the greatest proportion of pectoralis injuries (48.1%), with pitching being the most common activity at the time of injury (45.9%). A majority of injuries (86.5%) were sustained during non-contact play. Overall, 87.5% of injuries occurred on the player's dominant throwing side and 81.3% occurred on the player's dominant batting side. There was no significant difference in the rate of pectoralis injuries in the MLB regular season (0.584 per 10,000 AEs) vs. the MiLB regular season (0.425 per 10,000 AEs) (P = .1018). CONCLUSION: Pectoralis muscle injuries are most frequently non-contact injuries, most commonly sustained by pitchers. An understanding of these injuries can guide athletic trainers and management in expectation management and decision making, in addition to directing future efforts at injury prevention.

Pectoralis major injuries in the military: a surveillance approach to reduce an underestimated problem.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple studies report increasing cases of surgically treated pectoralis major (PM) muscle and tendon ruptures in military populations. Studies associate this with a growing popularity of weight-training and bench press exercises. Mild-to-moderate non-surgical PM traumas and overuse injuries have not been included in these studies despite evidence that these types of outpatient injuries account for the majority of the military's injury medical burden. METHODS: To assess rates of all PM injuries (ruptures, tears, strains, overuse), regardless of form of treatment, a PM injury surveillance definition was derived from International Classification of Disease (ICD) diagnostic codes used in routine US Army injury surveillance. A detailed clinical examination of 2016 Active Duty Army medical records was used to identify ICD codes commonly associated with PM injuries. Cost data were calculated and the definition applied to medical data from 2016 through 2018to assess trends. RESULTS: The estimated incidence of PM cases among soldiers was over 95% greater than if only considering severe surgical cases. Over 96% of army annual PM injury costs (direct medical and indirect from lost labour) were for outpatient services. PM injury incidence rates were not statistically different from 2016 to 2018. CONCLUSIONS: The PM injury surveillance definition provides a consistent means to monitor trends over time and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention efforts. PM injuries have a larger military impact than previously recognised and prioritised prevention strategies are needed to reduce them. Future interventions could focus on the bench press given its observed association with PM injuries.

Electromyography of the Pectoralis Major Muscle after Surgical Reconstruction of Chronic Tendon Rupture / Eletromiografia do músculo peitoral maior após reconstrução cirúrgica da ruptura crônica do tendão

Abstract Objective To evaluate the electrophysiological activity of the injured pectoralis major (PM) muscle of operated patients who perform weightlifting, more specifically bench press exercises, especially the activity of the clavicular and sternocostal portions of the PM. Methods All athletes in study I (10 patients) had unilateral complete ruptures during bench press exercises and a history of use of anabolic steroids, an association that is described in up to 86.7% of PM tendon ruptures. The control group included 10 men without PM tendon injury who did not perform bench press exercises. Description of the cross-sectional design. The p-values were obtained by multiple comparisons with Bonferroni correction. Results In the comparison between the control (C) group and the weightlifters during the postoperative period (POS), we found no evidence of differences in any measurements obtained in the clavicular and sternocostal portions of the PM muscle: clavicular average level (p = 0.847); clavicular standard deviation (SD) (p = 0.777); clavicular area (p = 0.933); clavicular median (p = 0.972); sternocostal average level (p = 0.633); sternocostal SD (p = 0.602); sternocostal area (p = 0.931); and sternocostal median (p = 0.633). Conclusion In the present study, the electromyographic activity of the PM muscle in weightlifters (bench press exercise) who underwent surgery was within the normal parameters for the clavicular and sternocostal portions studied.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a atividade eletrofisiológica do músculo peitoral maior (PM) lesionado de pacientes operados que realizam halterofilismo, mais especificamente exercícios de supino, especialmente a atividade das porções clavicular e esternocostal do PM. Métodos Todos os atletas no estudo I (10 pacientes) tiveram rupturas completas unilaterais durante o exercício de supino, e tinham histórico de uso de esteroides anabolizantes, associação descrita em até 86,7% das rupturas tendinosas do PM. O grupo controle incluiu 10 homens sem lesão no tendão do PM que não realizaram exercícios de supino. Descrição do projeto transversal. Os valores de p foram obtidos por múltiplas comparações com a correção de Bonferroni. Resultados Na comparação entre o grupo controle (C) e os halterofilistas durante o pós-operatório (POS), não foram encontradas diferenças nas medidas obtidas nas porções clavicular e esternocostal do músculo PM: nível médio clavicular (p = 0,847); desvio padrão (DP) clavicular (p = 0,777); área clavicular (p = 0,933); mediana da clavícula (p = 0,972); nível médio esternocostal (p = 0,633); DP esternocostal (p = 0,602); área esternocostal (p = 0,931); e mediana esternocostal (p = 0,633). Conclusão Neste estudo, a atividade eletromiográfica do músculo PM em atletas de halterofilismo (exercício de supino) que foram submetidos a cirurgia esteve dentro dos parâmetros normais para as porções claviculares e esternocostais estudadas.

Pectoralis Major Injuries: Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management.

¼: In the past 20 years, there has been a substantial increase in the prevalence of pectoralis major injuries, largely related to the rising popularity of weight-lifting and participation in contact sports. ¼: Treatment options are influenced by the severity of the injury, patient age, and the amount and type of physical activity. ¼: Although there is no consensus as to which treatment method is most effective, previous studies have demonstrated increased satisfaction among patients who undergo operative treatment. ¼: The average length of time from surgery to return to activity ranges from 6 to 24 months.

Horner Syndrome With Ipsilateral Wing Paresis in a Wild, Juvenile Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus).

A juvenile yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus) was presented with paresis of the right wing, ptosis, and miosis of the right eye; feather erection of the right side of the head and neck; and a penetrating injury over the right pectoral muscle. Temporary reversal of ptosis, miosis, and feather erection after administration of phenylephrine drops confirmed a diagnosis of Horner syndrome. Computed tomographic imaging revealed a fractured rib, traumatic lung lesions, and subcutaneous emphysema. The right-sided Horner syndrome and wing paresis were attributed to a sympathetic nerve trauma of the eye and feathers and to the brachial plexus, respectively. This report describes the diagnosis and resolution of ptosis and miosis within 8 weeks and recovery of feather symmetry and wing function within 11 weeks of the cockatoo's initial presentation with a conservative-management treatment plan.

Isolated tears of the sternocostal head of the pectoralis major muscle: surgical technique, clinical outcomes, and a modification of the Tietjen and Bak classification.

HYPOTHESIS: We aimed to describe a modified surgical technique to treat isolated sternocostal head tears using cortical button fixation while preserving the intact clavicular head tendon, to outline a new classification of pectoralis major injuries, and to present the clinical outcomes and return-to-sport data of a cohort of 21 athletes who underwent surgical repair. METHODS: We reviewed prospectively collected data of patients who underwent surgical repair with the described technique for isolated sternocostal head tears from 2008 to 2014. Two-year postoperative clinical outcomes including the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score, isokinetic strength, patient satisfaction, and return to sport, as well as preinjury and postoperative bench-press weight, were collected, and descriptive statistics were used for analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients who underwent repair of isolated sternocostal head tears were included. The majority of the isolated tears of the sternocostal head of the pectoralis major (57%) occurred during the bench press. Of the ruptures, 81% were Tietjen type IIIC and 19% were type IIID. Postoperative Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores averaged 90.1 (standard deviation, 8.4), and patient satisfaction was 9.5 of 10 (standard deviation, 0.9). All athletes returned to sport approximately 5.5 months postoperatively. The isokinetic strength deficit averaged 8% compared with the contralateral arm, whereas the average preinjury bench-press weight of 134 kg (range 88-227 kg) was restored to 117 kg (range 61-250 kg) postoperatively. CONCLUSION: We propose a new classification of pectoralis major injury. In addition, we present a biomechanically sound repair technique for isolated tears of the sternocostal head of the pectoralis with favorable outcomes. The technique takes the specific anatomy of the sternocostal and clavicular heads into account for the approach.

Everything pectoralis major: from repair to transfer.

Background: Pectoralis major ruptures are increasing in incidence primarily due to an increase in awareness, activity level among young males between 20 and 40 years of age, and use of anabolic steroids. Although the majority of pectoralis major ruptures are acute injuries, many chronic ruptures are unrecognized and it is imperative to understand the proper evaluation of these injuries, as well as the appropriate treatment for acute and chronic ruptures.Purpose: Pectoralis major ruptures can lead to deformity and physical disability if left untreated. This review paper discusses both acute and chronic ruptures as well as indications for nonoperative treatment and operative treatment to give the reader the best understanding of this diagnosis and proper management.Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed using a search of electronic databases. Search terms such as pectoralis major rupture, pectoralis major repair, pectoralis major tendon transfer, and pectoralis major nonoperative treatment were used. Case reports, systematic reviews, prospective and retrospective studies were included to provide a comprehensive review. The only exclusion criteria consisted of studies not published in English. This review article includes the anatomy and biomechanics of the pectoralis major muscle, proper evaluation of the patient, operative and nonoperative treatment of acute and chronic pectoralis major ruptures, and outcomes of the recommended treatment.Conclusion: Nonoperative treatment is indicated for patients with medical comorbidities, older age, incomplete tears, or irreparable damage. Patients treated non-operatively have been shown to lose strength, but regain full range of motion. Patients with surgery before 6 weeks reported better outcomes than patients with surgery between 6 and 8 weeks. The chronicity of the rupture (>8 weeks) increases the likelihood of reconstruction, involving the use of autografts or allografts. Patients treated with delayed repair had significantly better strength, satisfaction, and outcomes than patients with nonoperative treatment. The pectoralis tendon can also be transferred in patients with rotators cuff tears, atrophy, or significant functional limitation. Tendon transfers have been shown to have unpredictable outcomes, but overall satisfactory results.

Acute pectoralis major tears in active duty US military personnel: Midterm outcomes of repairs performed in the forward-deployed setting.

PURPOSE: To report midterm outcomes of a series of acute pectoralis major tears repaired surgically in the deployed setting in active duty military personnel. METHODS: Analysis of acute pectoralis major tears treated at one expeditionary medical treatment facility during a 4-month time frame. RESULTS: Nine male patients with a mean age of 32 years (23-52) were diagnosed with tears; seven underwent operative fixation in the forward deployed setting. All injuries occurred during bench press, with the dominant upper extremity involved 56% of the time. With an average final follow-up of 4.1 years, the mean disabilities of the arm shoulder and hand score was 35.71 (range 31-41) and the mean American shoulder and elbow surgeons score was 90.71 (range 87-95). All personnel returned to their preinjury jobs with an average return to full preinjury function occurring at 7 months (range 4.5-10.5 months) in the operative group. CONCLUSIONS: Combat-deployed active duty US military personnel likely represent a high-risk population for this injury. Our study demonstrates that with at least 4 years of follow-up, surgical repair with a trough and trans-osseous repair technique was technically feasible and clinically successful in the deployed setting. Although this treatment may be considered in rare individual cases moving forward, due to the lengthy postoperative restrictions, inability to return back to duty in a timely manner, and lengthy rehabilitation, we no longer recommend this surgery be performed in theater.

Efeitos do congelamento em hambúrgueres processados com carne de peito de frangos acometidos pela miopatia “white striping” / Effects of freezing on processed poultry meat hamburguers affected by white striping myopathy

O peito de frango é muito procurado, principalmente como alternativa para alimentação mais saudável por sua baixa porcentagem de lipídeos e boa quantidade de proteína (20,0% em média), isso numa carne de peito saudável. Redes de “fast foods” chegam a vender 100 bilhões de hambúrgueres em todo mundo, sendo uma média de 75 hambúrgueres por segundo. Este estudo foi conduzido no Laboratório de Análise de Alimentos de Origem Animal da FCAV, UNESP. Objetivou-se utilizar carne de peitos de frangos acometidos pela miopatia “white striping” na fabricação de hambúrgueres contendo 100% de peito e pele de frango como gordura e observar os efeitos das miopatias no armazenamento de 120 dias. O armazenamento de hambúrgueres por até 120 dias ocasiona maiores perdas durante o cozimento e maior retração de hambúrgueres.

Outcomes and Return to Sport After Pectoralis Major Tendon Repair: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT:: Pectoralis major tendon ruptures are becoming increasingly common due to the growing prevalence of active lifestyles. Studies investigating the efficacy of pectoralis major tendon repair have limited sample sizes and offer mixed results, while existing reviews do not explore postoperative activity outcomes for patients. OBJECTIVE:: To summarize and synthesize the clinical outcomes and rate of return to activity after isolated pectoralis major tendon repair. DATA SOURCES:: Four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, and CINAHL) were searched from database inception through March 7, 2018. STUDY SELECTION:: Studies reporting outcomes of isolated pectoralis major tendon repair for pectoralis major tendon rupture were included. STUDY DESIGN:: Systematic review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: Level 4. DATA EXTRACTION:: Data including patient demographics, intervention details, and clinical outcomes were extracted. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated. RESULTS:: Of 2332 retrieved articles, 18 studies were included, with a total of 536 patients. A majority (90%; 134/149) of patients undergoing pectoralis major tendon repair successfully returned to sport at a mean 6.1 ± 1.7 months postsurgery, of which 74% (95/128) successfully returned to their preinjury level of sport. The majority (95%; 269/284) of patients returned to work at a mean 6.9 ± 1 months. Postsurgically, 81% (83/102) of patients experienced complete pain relief after the surgery, and 19% (21/109) had cosmetic complaints after pectoralis major repair. Of the 10 studies that reported complications, 18% (75/423) of patients had postoperative complications, including reruptures and wound infections; 7% (30/423) of patients required reoperation for their complications. CONCLUSION:: Pectoralis major tendon repair is an effective treatment that results in a high rate of return to sport and work, pain relief, and improved cosmetic appearance, albeit with a significant rate of complication. The evidence supporting all outcomes was limited by the rarity of the injury, the variable surgical techniques, and outcome assessment criteria.

Rotura del tendón del pectoral mayor: técnica de reparación abierta durante periodo agudo / Pectoralis major tendon rupture: open repair technique during acute period

La rotura del tendón del pectoral mayor es considerada una lesión infrecuente en lo descrito en la literatura, pero esa lesión ha tenido un aumento exponencial en sus reportes a partir de los años 90. A continuación, presentamos la resolución quirúrgica de una rotura completa del tendón del pectoral mayor mediante una técnica simple y reproducible en un hombre de 34 años, sometido a una alta demanda física diaria. Tenemos ya publicado diferentes técnicas de reparación en periodo agudo como reconstrucción en lesiones crónicas. Nosotros presentamos una técnica de reparación para rotura aguda que consiste en la reinserción mediante anclas de titanio en su huella insercional mediante una configuración de suturas que forma un constructo estable y resistente, que permita al paciente rehabilitarse en forma precoz y satisfactoria para intentar volver al mismo nivel de actividad pre lesional. Con eso, aportamos al especialista una manera sencilla de enfrentarse y planificar la reparación de ese tipo de lesiones infrecuentes que no siempre estamos acostumbrados a resolver.

Pectoralis major tendon rupture is an infrequent injury in what has been described in the literature so far. Lately, an exponential increase in reported cases of this injury has been observed. We present a simple and reproducible surgical technique in a 34 years old male subject to a high daily physical demand. Different techniques have been published for tendon repair during the acute period as well as reconstruction in chronic lesions. We present a technique for acute rupture that consists of the reinsertion by means of titanium anchors in its insertional footprint through a suture configuration that forms a stable and resistant construct, that allows the patient to be rehabilitated in an early and satisfactory manner with the objective to return to the same Level of pre-injury activity. With this we provide the specialist with a simple way to manage the repair of these infrequent injuries.

MRI of pectoralis major tears: association between ancillary findings and tear severity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the significance of biceps tendon (BT) displacement and peri-bicipital hematoma on MRI in subjects with pectoralis major (PM) tears. We hypothesized that these features might be associated with tear severity at surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified MRI cases with PM injury and reviewed clinical, imaging, and surgical records. MR images were reviewed independently by two musculoskeletal radiologists to determine anterior displacement of BT (BT-disp, in mm) and the presence of triangular-shaped peri-bicipital hematoma. Data were compared with an age- and sex-matched control group and correlated with surgical reports grouped by tear severity. RESULTS: We identified 46 subjects with PM injury (43 men, 3 women; mean age 34 ± 9 years), 26 of whom underwent surgical reconstruction, and 20 matched controls (P > 0.2). BT-disp was significantly higher in PM injury vs controls (P = 0.003), and in tendon vs myotendinous (MT) junction PM tears (P < 0.0001); however, MT junction tears vs controls were similar (P = 0.98). Higher BT-disp and presence of peri-bicipital hematoma correlated significantly with surgical reports describing full-thickness complete tears. BT-disp > 4.5 mm had 86% sensitivity and 75% specificity to detect the most severe tears on surgical reports, whereas the presence of peri-bicipital hematoma was the strongest predictor among both parameters. CONCLUSION: Anterior BT displacement and peri-bicipital hematoma are helpful indicators of full-thickness complete tears at the humeral insertion.

Reparación del pectoral mayor. Reporte de casos y revisión de la literatura / Pectoralis major muscle tendon rupture. Cases report and literature review

La ruptura del tendón del músculo pectoral mayor (TPM) es una lesión poco común que ocurre fundamentalmente en pacientes de sexo masculino que practican deportes de fuerza como rugby o levantamiento de pesas. El beneficio del tratamiento quirúrgico radica en la mejora tanto funcional como estética. Presentamos una serie de cinco casos de pacientes operados por ruptura del TPM. Todos intervenidos en nuestro centro por el mismo equipo quirúrgico con un seguimiento mínimo de doce meses. Presentamos la técnica quirúrgica utilizada y realizamos también una revisión de la literatura. Tipo de estudio: Reporte de caso. Revisión bibliográfica. Nivel de evidencia: IV.

Pectoralis major muscle tendon rupture (PMT), is a rare injury that occurs in patients who practice sports such as rugby or weight lifting. The benefit of surgical treatment relies in better outcomes on muscular function and also cosmetic appearance. We present a series of five cases surgically treated for a PMT rupture. All of them treated in our center by the same surgical team with a minimum follow-up of twelve months. We describe in detail the different steps of the surgical technique and we made a review of the literature. Type of study: Case report. Literature review. Level of evidence: IV.

Pectoralis Major Repair: A Biomechanical Analysis of Modern Repair Configurations Versus Traditional Repair Configuration.

BACKGROUND: Pectoralis major (PM) ruptures are increasingly common, and a variety of surgical techniques have been described. However, tested techniques have demonstrated diminished strength with inadequate restoration of the footprint and suture failure at relatively low loads. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose was to biomechanically compare PM transosseous suture repair (current gold standard) to modern PM repair techniques that use larger caliber sutures, suture tape, and unicortical button fixation (UBF). The null hypothesis was that there would be no mechanical difference between repair techniques and no difference in the amount of footprint restoration. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Twenty-four fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders controlled for age and bone mineral density were randomized equally to 4 groups: (1) UBF, suture tape; (2) UBF, No. 5 suture, suture tape; (3) bone trough with No. 2 suture; and (4) native PM tendon group; all groups were tested to failure. The specimens were tested under cycling loads (10 N to 125 N) with a final load-to-failure test at 1 mm/s. Failure modes were classified by location and cause of rupture based on optical markers, while tendon footprint length was measured to determine amount of footprint restoration. RESULTS: For fixation strength, the mean peak load was significantly greater in the native tendon (1816 ± 706 N) versus UBF/No. 5 suture/suture tape (794 ± 168 N), UBF/suture tape (502 ± 201 N), and bone trough (492 ± 151 N) ( P < .001 for all). UBF/No. 5 suture/suture tape featured the lowest displacement superiorly (1.09 ± 0.47 mm) and inferiorly (1.14 ± 0.39 mm) with a significant difference compared with bone trough. With regard to tendon footprint reapproximation, cortical button fixation best approximated native tendon footprint length versus bone trough. CONCLUSION: Based on peak failure load, the UBF/No. 5 suture/suture tape construct demonstrated 61% greater construct strength than a traditional bone trough technique. Moreover, displacement after cyclic loading was by far smallest in the UBF/No. 5 suture/suture tape construct. Therefore, repair constructs with larger caliber suture and suture tape provide a measurable improvement in construct strength versus traditional PM repair techniques in a biomechanical model and may be advantageous for repair. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cortical button fixation with larger caliber suture and suture tape allows for a significantly better PM repair than more traditional techniques at the time of surgery, which may ultimately result in improved clinical outcomes if implemented in surgical practice.

Pectoralis major tendon rupture in a weight lifter: a rare case.

Pectoralis major tendon (PMT) rupture is a rare event, and it was originally described by Patisser in 1822. The PMT is a thick lamina, which has two origins, one from the clavicle and the other from the ribcage sternum. PMT lesions are classified according to 3 levels of severity: Type 1 is contusions and strains, Type 2 is a partial tear and Type 3 is a complete tear. Diagnosis is made through a clinical examination which comprises a positive response to pain upon pressure over the axilla recess, the presence of bruising and limited motion, and is completed with an MRI. Type 3 injuries are treated exclusively through surgery, while Type 1 and 2 lesions are treated conservatively. In this article, we describe a rare case of PMT rupture in a 39-year-old weight lifter, the surgical treatment that was carried out through an open access at the Pectoralis and Deltoid junction and anchor suture, the post-surgical rehabilitation program and a 1-year follow-up assessment at which point return to sport was achieved.