Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgical repair of rare chest muscle rupture with new mesh technique
By Saade H et al.·2026·Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Surgical repair of a rare sternal origin pectoralis major rupture using a novel mesh-anchor-suture technique: a case report.
Plain-English summary
This case report discusses a 33-year-old man who suffered a rare injury to a muscle in his chest called the pectoralis major after participating in a combat sport. The injury was chronic, meaning it had been there for a while, which made it harder to treat because the muscle had pulled back and the tissue quality was poor. The doctors used a new surgical method involving a special mesh and sutures to reattach the muscle. After the surgery, the patient recovered well and was able to regain almost full movement and strength in about six months. This case shows that even with a delayed injury, it is possible to successfully repair this type of muscle rupture using innovative surgical techniques.
Abstract
In this case report, we present a 33-year-old male patient with a rare, chronic, isolated rupture of the sternal head of the pectoralis major (PM) at its sternal origin following a combat sport injury. Managing this case proved challenging due to the chronicity of the injury, which caused significant retraction and suboptimal tissue quality, and the scarcity of available literature regarding such cases. We employed a novel surgical technique using a polypropylene mesh-anchor-suture construct to reinsert the muscle to its sternal origin. Recovery was uneventful, with restoration of near full range of motion and strength by 6 months post-surgery. Our approach to this case demonstrates the feasibility of surgical repair of rare PM ruptures of sternal origin, even with delayed presentation, using modified surgical techniques.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41503130