Introduction:
Rupture of the deltoid is reported most frequently in elderly patients
with associated massive rotator cuff tears [1,2]. Other reported
deltoid tears have been documented following open surgical procedures
that violate the deltoid muscle fibers [3]. Only a handful of cases
have been recorded that involve young active patients who suffered
traumatic deltoid tendon ruptures [4-6]. The deltoid originates from
the anterior border of the clavicle, acromion and spine of the scapula.
Inserting distally at the deltoid tuberosity. Detachment of the deltoid
is associated with an acute, sudden onset of shoulder weakness and pain.
All of the literature to date describes deltoid detachment from its
origin on either the acromion or clavicle [1-6]. There is a paucity
of cases described in the literature involving traumatic deltoid
ruptures from the humeral insertion site. With the aid of a cadaveric
and muscle activation study we postulate a mechanism of injury and
discuss our intraoperative findings [7-8]. The aim of our study is
to summarize the current literature on deltoid ruptures as well as
present a case report and surgical technique.