Acute rupture of the pectoralis major muscle at the musculotendinous junction: Case report of a rare injury and literature review

Abstract

Rupture of the pectoralis major muscle (PMR) is a rare injury that occurs primarily during strength training. The case of a 31-year-old professional basketball player who suffered a rupture of the pectoralis major muscle (PM) at the myotendinous junction while performing bench presses is presented. Due to persistent pain and decreased muscle function, surgery was performed 3 weeks after the initial trauma. The patient returned to playing basketball pain-free with full range of motion 3 months following refixation of the PM. This article discusses the distinct characteristics of this injury in the context of the current literature and the operative approach is presented in detail.