Arthroscopic Repair of an Isolated Infraspinatus Tear in a Contact Athlete: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION: Young, athletic patients who suffer a traumatic rotator cuff tear often have high expectations for returning to their pre-injury level of physical ability. Rotator cuff injuries in adolescent and young adults are rare injuries. Isolated tears of the infraspinatus tendon are ever more rare with only one other case being previously reported in literature. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear isolated to the infraspinatus tendon in an 18-year-old quarterback. The patient underwent arthroscopic fixation and has returned to pre-injury level of function. CONCLUSION: This case presents the rare injury of an isolated infraspinatus tear and demonstrates that with subsequent treatment the patient was able to return to pre-injury level of function. General arthroscopic techniques and rehabilitation protocols used for rotator cuff tears in young patients can be applied to successfully manage traumatic tears of the infraspinatus.