How is latissimus dorsi tear diagnosed?
Before deciding what treatment should be used, the doctor may analyze the severity of your latissimus dorsi tear through a type of scan called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This will help your doctor see whether there is an injury and decide what can be done to improve muscle function.
What happens if you tear your latissimus dorsi?
When your latissimus dorsi is injured, you might feel pain in your low back, mid-to-upper back, along the base of your scapula, or in the back of the shoulder. You may even feel pain along the inside of the arm, all the way down to your fingers.
How long does it take for a torn latissimus dorsi to heal?
Recovery time varies depending on the strain, with Grade 1 strains typically requiring 2-3 weeks and Grade 2 strains usually taking at least a month.
How do you treat latissimus dorsi tear?
Initial treatment consists of rest and icing the injured area. A sling may be given for comfort. Small partial latissimus dorsi tendon injuries may be treated conservatively with shoulder exercises completed under the supervision of a physical therapist or athletic trainer.
How long is latissimus dorsi surgery?
A latissimus dorsi flap procedure lasts about 3 or 4 hours. After latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction surgery: You’ll be moved to the recovery room after surgery, where hospital staff members will monitor your heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure.
How common are lat tears?
Although relatively rare in the general population, latissimus dorsi and teres major tears do occur, and are seen not uncommonly in the high level throwing athlete.
What is the latissimus dorsi responsible for?
The latissimus dorsi is the largest muscle in the upper body. The latissimus dorsi is responsible for extension, adduction, transverse extension also known as horizontal abduction (or horizontal extension), flexion from an extended position, and (medial) internal rotation of the shoulder joint.
What is latissimus flap surgery?
In a latissimus dorsi flap procedure, an oval flap of skin, fat, muscle, and blood vessels from your upper back is used to reconstruct the breast. This flap is moved under your skin around to your chest to rebuild your breast.
Can a latissimus dorsi flap be reversed?
The reverse latissimus dorsi muscle flap can be transposed to cover the lumbar orthoracic defects and can be used inside the chest. The superior perforators can be divided for adequate reach of the flap, but the inferior pedicles need to be preserved for the survival of the flap.
What is the main function of the latissimus dorsi muscle?
Latissimus dorsi works collaboratively with the teres major and pectoralis major to perform actions of the upper extremity. Together, these muscles will work to adduct, medially rotate and extend the arm at the glenohumeral joint.
Can a latissimus dorsi tear be repaired?
A magnetic resonance imaging classification has been proposed for tears of the latissimus dorsi and teres major 2: Latissimus dorsi injuries can be managed conservatively or surgically. Higher grade tears benefit from surgical repair 1,2,7.
Is the latissimus dorsi included in a shoulder MRI?
The latissimus dorsi and teres major muscles are only partially included in the field of view of typical shoulder MRI, and therefore, the radiologist must possess an understanding of the anatomy, and check that the muscles are normal in appearance on every shoulder MRI.
Is the latissimus dorsi and teres major tendon discrete?
Often the teres major tendon and latissimus dorsi tendon become confluent proximal to their insertion, so the teres major tendon is not identifiable as a discrete linear structure like the latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major (Figure 8).
Are there any symptoms of a latissimus dorsi avulsion?
Most commonly there are no pre-existing symptoms related to the latissimus dorsi, but cases of vague posterior tightness and fatigue have been reported leading up to the point of incapacitating injury, subsequently documented to be a latissimus dorsi avulsion 4.
