Incomplete joint side tear of the subscapularis tendon with a small fragment in an adolescent tennis player: a case report

CASE: In this case report, we presented the case of an adolescent tennis player with avulsion injury of the subscapularis tendon of the right shoulder. PATIENTS: A 17-year-old right-hand-dominant male tennis player visited our hospital complaining of pain in the anterior aspect of the right shoulder. We performed X-ray and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for the diagnosis. RESULTS: Plain radiographs did not reveal the presence of lesion; however, 3D-CT and MRI scans showed a small bony fragment located between the humeral head and the glenoid of the scapula and a high-intensity area of the subscapularis tendon. He was subsequently diagnosed with incomplete joint side tear of the subscapularis tendon with a small bony fragment. Subsequently, we performed arthroscopic excision of the bony fragment and repair of the subscapularis tendon. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlighted the presence of an injury with minor trauma associated with repeated tennis strokes in a skeletally immature patient.