Pectoralis Major Muscle Belly Repair in a Young Male Adult

Abstract

Case: A 29-year-old man sustained a near-complete laceration to the left pectoralis major muscle belly. The muscle and epimysium were repaired using the Kragh technique—a combination of running interlocked and Mason-Allen stitches. At the 6-year follow-up, the patient had an excellent outcome as measured by clinical scores (Short Form Survey-36, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score), bench press, cosmesis, and magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusions: Acute traumatic open pectoralis muscle belly tears may be successfully repaired in select patients using the Kragh technique with excellent postoperative function and cosmesis.

Pectoralis Major Muscle Belly Rupture in a 17-Year-Old Female Softball Player

“…PM tears have been reported anywhere between the muscular origin and insertion, but by far, the most common site of rupture is either the musculotendinous junction or the site of humeral insertion. Rarely, however, do they occur in the muscle belly itself, and when they do, it is primarily due to blunt trauma, not repetitive throwing as witnessed in this case 1,6,7,10,14,19,20 . Intramuscular repair presents a unique challenge to surgeons given the lack of reliable suture constructs and increased likelihood of suture pullout, making an adequate end-to-end repair difficult 21,22 .…”

“…Intramuscular repair presents a unique challenge to surgeons given the lack of reliable suture constructs and increased likelihood of suture pullout, making an adequate end-to-end repair difficult 21,22 . Although current literature describing optimal surgical treatment for intramuscular PM muscle ruptures is inconclusive, a small number of cases have reported successful outcomes after operative treatment for active patients intending to return to their preinjury level of competition 12,19,20,23–25 . After this trend, our patient returning to her preinjury status 4 months postoperatively adds to the literature yet another example of successful surgical treatment of an intramuscular rupture of the PM muscle using a modified Kessler technique.…”