Single humeral greater tuberosity fracture accounts for 17%-21% of proximal humeral fractures. According to different fracture forms of the humeral greater tuberosity, it is divided into avulsion fracture, splitting fracture and compression fracture, and the avulsion or splitting of the greater tuberosity has greater influence on rotator cuff function. Therefore, surgery is required among patients with high demand for sports if the displacement of the greater tuberosity is over 3 mm in recent years. With the enhance of knowledge and the improvement of minimally invasive devices, shoulder arthroscopic technology has become the mainstream trend of humeral greater tuberosity fracture treatment, but there are few reports on the therapeutic effect of this type of injury.

To investigate the clinical effect of tension band suture in the treatment of humeral greater tuberosity fracture under shoulder arthroscopy.

From May 2015 to June 2017, the data and follow-up results of patients who received shoulder arthroscopic tension band technique was retrospectively analyzed retrospective study was done to analyzed. Nine were males and six were females. Their ages ranged from 31 to 68 years with an average of 46.7 years. Causes of injuries: 3 cases of traffic accidents, 2 cases of high falls and 10 cases of fall damages. According to Mutch classification, there were 5 cases of type I and 10 cases of type II. Combined other injuries: 7 of 15 patients with rotator cuff injuries, inckuding 4 cases of supraspinatus tendon injuries, 1 case of infraspinatus tendon injury and 1 case of teres minor tendon injury, 1 case of subscapular tendon injury. There were 2 cases of biceps long head tendon injuries, 2 cases of Bankart lesions, 3 cases of SLAP injuries. The duration from injury to surgery was 4 days (2-7 days) . All patients received surgery under shoulder arthroscopy. Visual analogue scale (VAS) , Constant-Murley score and shoulder range of motion were adopted for evaluation of shoulder joint function.

All patients received follow-up for 19.8 months (10-36 months) . The VAS score of postoperative 12 months was 0-2 points, the Constant-Murley score was 92.1 points and the ASES score was 89.5 points. Shoulder range of motion: the mean range of ante-flexion was 170° (140°-180°) , the mean range of external rotation was 38.7° (20°-70°) , and the internal rotation reached to the T12 level. No complications such as internal fixation failure, fracture displacement or neurovascular injury occurred in this group of patients.

Humeral greater tuberosity fracture requires high reduction and fixation demand. The tension band suture technique under arthroscopy is a minimally invasive, safe and effective method for treatment of single humeral greater tuberosity fracture, which can obtain good clinical effect.