Etiology of fracture of lesser tuberosity of humerus

Fractures of lesser tuberosity of humerus alone are rare in clinical practice. Most fractures of lesser tuberosity of humerus are accompanied by fractures of surgical neck or greater tuberosity of humerus, which makes the lesser tuberosity of humerus become a part of comminuted proximal humerus fracture. The main causes of fracture can be divided into direct violent injury and indirect violent injury. The so-called direct violent injury usually refers to the fracture of the proximal small tuberosity of the humerus caused by blunt force strike at the proximal part of the humerus, direct impact from car accident or falling from a height. Indirect violent injury generally occurs when the patient falls and the force is transferred from the distal end to the proximal surgical neck of the humerus. This is the most important cause of fracture of the small tuberosity of the humerus.