Greater Tuberosity Fractures Wheeless

Description: - isolated displaced greater tuberosity fractures are thought to occur in less than 2% of proximal humeral frx;
- greater tuberosity fragments w/ its attached rotator cuff will characteristically have a longitudinal tear in the cuff between the supraspinatus and subscapularis tendons;
- additionally, displaced fractures are associated w/ longitudinal rotator cuff tears;
- note that these fractures are often associated w/ anterior shoulder dislocation;
- in some cases, the magnitude of the fracture defect in the humeral head will be over-estimated due to the presence of an unrecognized Hill Sachs lesion
Wheeless Textbook of Orthopaedics