Latissimus Dorsi Tear in an Olympics-Level Tennis Player: Case Report and Review of Literature

• Published in: Indian journal of orthopaedics Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 332 - 338
• Main Authors: Pardiwala, Dinshaw N., Subbiah, Kushalappa, Rao, Nandan, Modi, Rahul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Delhi Springer India 01.05.2020
• Subjects: Case Report; Conservative Orthopedics; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Orthopedics; Surgical Orthopedics; Tennis; Non-operative treatment; Return to sport; Latissimus dorsi tear
• ISSN: 0019-5413; 1998-3727
• DOI: 10.1007/s43465-020-00055-0

Latissimus dorsi tears are extremely rare and are encountered primarily in high-level athletes. Noted initially in baseball pitchers, cases have been described in other sports too, with one report of a latissimus dorsi tear at the muscle–tendon junction in a tennis player. Anecdotal outcomes have been comparative after both non-operative and operative treatments. Although no clear indications for operative intervention exist, there is a general consensus that partial non-retracted tears can be managed with non-operative treatment, whereas complete tears warrant surgical repair. This case report describes a complete rupture with retraction of the latissimus dorsi tendon that occurred during a competitive match in an international level tennis player. Due to compelling sports participation reasons, this tear was managed with non-operative treatment. The player returned to competitive tennis within 6 weeks and won the Asian Games men’s doubles tennis gold medal 53 days following his injury. He has had no subsequent shoulder-related symptoms despite his continuous participation in international level tennis for the past 18 months. We analyse the role of the latissimus dorsi in tennis and also review the available literature on this uncommon sports injury.