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News
Latissimus dorsi and teres major tears are a growing cause of shoulder pain in baseball pitchers — and surgery is proving to be a reliable fix. A single-incision posterior axillary repair that restores the tendon to its natural attachment point offers solid fixation with minimal tissue disruption. Most pitchers can expect meaningful recovery, though full improvement may take up to a year post-op.
Latissimus dorsi (LD) and teres major (TM) tears are increasingly recognized as a significant source of shoulder pain and performance loss in baseball pitchers. These muscles are critical for the explosive internal rotation needed during pitching, and when they tear — especially full-thickness — athletes often can't return to their prior level of play without surgical intervention.
Not every tear needs the OR, though. Partial-thickness tears and muscle strains typically respond well to conservative management. It's the high-grade, full-thickness ruptures — particularly those with more than 2 cm of tendon retraction — that tend to require surgery to achieve reliable outcomes.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: As pitch velocities climb and biomechanical demands intensify, LD/TM injuries are becoming more common in elite throwers. Having a well-defined surgical technique and rehab roadmap gives orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine teams a clearer path to getting pitchers back — safely and fully.
