Clinical Findings in Acute Rupture of the Pectoralis Major Muscle

 

Clinical features:

(1) hearing or sensing a sudden "pop" during the triggering event

(2) feeling a tearing sensation in the muscle

(3) immediate onset of pain

(4) sudden onset of weakness in the muscle

(5) pain on palpation of the muscle

(6) pain when contracting the muscle

(7) swelling with ecchymoses and/or hematoma, especially if anticoagulated

(8) loss of the anterior axillary fold on the injured side, especially during abduction

(9) evidence of a muscle rupture on ultrasonography of the affected muscle

 

The area of swelling may be anywhere from the sternocostal junction to the axilla on the affected side.