ISOLATED AVULSION FRACTURE OF THE LESSER TUBEROSITY OF THE HUMERUS INADOLESCENTS

We report the cases of two adolescents who had an isolated avulsion fr acture of the lesser tuberosity of the humerus. The cases of these pat ients are noteworthy because the diagnosis was made more than one year after the injury. Both patients demonstrated limitation in the range and strength of internal rotation of the involved shoulder. In additio n: radiographs revealed that the lesser tuberosity of the proximal asp ect of the humerus had healed to the medial aspect of the surgical nec k. A preoperative magnetic resonance imaging study showed that the bic eps tendon was medially dislocated in one patient. Both patients were managed successfully with osteotomy and reattachment of the displaced lesser tuberosity to its original anatomical location.