Traumatic rupture of the deltoid muscle during a pull-up: a case report

Abstract

Rupture of the deltoid is a rare injury and has been reported most frequently in the elderly. It has been well recognized in association with acute or chronic massive rotator cuff tears. Spontaneous dehiscence of a deltoid repair following open cuff repairs is also well documented. A traumatic rupture of this muscle in the elderly has been attributed to weakening of this muscle from aging. Repeated steroid injections for rotator cuff tendinitis may also predispose one to atraumatic deltoid tears. A traumatic rupture of the deltoid has been reported to be caused by a seatbelt during a road traffic accident in a middle-aged patient. This injury is rare in the young. It has been described in a 31-year-old bowler where the deltoid was detached from the posterolateral corner of the acromion. We report a young male who sustained an anterior deltoid tear after a pull-up during military training.