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Rupture of pectoralis major: an occupational injury
Emergency Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, UK
Correspondence to:
bob.jarman{at}ghnt.nhs.uk
A 41-year-old doorman attended the emergency department with a history of sudden pain and a popping sensation to the anterior aspect of his right shoulder on restraining a person in the course of his work the previous evening. He had swelling and bruising as shown in fig 1. He was diagnosed with a distal rupture of his right pectoralis major muscle (PM). He subsequently underwent surgical exploration and repair.
 View this figure (105K): Figure 1 Presentation of patient showing swelling and bruising. Informed consent was obtained for publication of this figure.
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The condition is primarily diagnosed clinically but magnetic resonance imaging is widely accepted as the modality of choice in evaluating possible tears of PM.
Non-surgical management is recommended only for proximal tears and for elderly, sedentary patients. Otherwise, surgery is advocated to enable return to full strength and function. Rehabilitation involves a gradual progression to the increase range of movement and muscle strength, and patients can usually return to full activity in 3–6 months.1
This article has been adapted from Catterson P R, Jarman R D. Rupture of pectoralis major: an occupational injury Emergency Medicine Journal 2007;24:799
Informed consent was obtained for publication of fig 1.
Competing interests: none
- Petilon, J, Carr, D, Sekiya, J, et al. Pectoralis major muscle injuries: evaluation and management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2005; 13: 59–68.
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