Isolated avulsion fracture of the lesser tuberosity of the humerus: A case report.

Isolated avulsion fracture of the lesser tuberosity of the humerus is extremely rare. Only 75 cases have been reported in the literature since Hartigan's report in 7895. In all of the previously reported cases, these injuries seriously impaired the patients' ability to function. However, the case reported here involves chronic pain after an avulsion fracture of a fragment of the lesser tuberosity of the humerus in a young male athlete. This patient continued to participate in competitive athletics for over a year after his injury before he sought definitive treatment. Eventually, surgical excision of the fragment of lesser tuberosity relieved the patient's symptoms.