Newswise — Surgery is an effective and safe option to treat patients with pectoralis major tendon (PMT) ruptures, generally demonstrating a low risk of re-rupture and complications, according to research presented today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

“At final follow-up with patients at an average of 71 days post-operation, 114 of 120 (95%) were able to return to their occupation at full capacity,” noted corresponding author Michelle T. Sugi, MD, MPH, from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. “We also only identified three instances of failed repair, which is notable for a study group of this size.”

The study was performed at a multi-surgeon, multi-center community based integrated health system. Surgical repair techniques included suture anchors, sutures through bone tunnels, suture button, end-to-end suture repair, and a biotenodesis screw. Of 120 patients who reached final follow-up, 17 (13%) suffered from a complication, of which the suture end-to-end repair represented the highest percentage (18%) of complications of all surgical approaches. Researchers also identified weight lifting as the cause of injuries in 62% of the patients studied, trauma in 18%, and martial arts in 9%. 

“These ruptures are relatively uncommon, and we have limited research to understand the best treatment option,” commented Sugi. “We hope our research can contribute to a better understanding of who is affected by these injuries, how to treat them, and how to address potential complications.”

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The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is the premier global, sports medicine organization representing the interests of orthopaedic surgeons and other professionals who provide comprehensive health services for the care of athletes and active people of all ages and levels. We cultivate evidence-based knowledge, provide extensive educational programming, and promote emerging research that advances the science and practice of sports medicine. AOSSM is also a founding partner of the STOP Sports Injuries campaign to prevent overuse and traumatic injuries in kids.

 

Meeting Link: AOSSM 2017 Annual Meeting