Mutch classification of greater tuberosity fractures

Last revised by Mostafa Elfeky on 28 Jun 2023

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Nicoletti D, Elfeky M, Knipe H, et al. Mutch classification of greater tuberosity fractures. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 22 May 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-169908

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-169908

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/169908

rID:

169908

Article created:

7 Jun 2023, Domenico Nicoletti ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Domenico Nicoletti had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Domenico Nicoletti's current disclosures

Last revised:

28 Jun 2023, Mostafa Elfeky ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Mostafa Elfeky had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Mostafa Elfeky's current disclosures

Revisions:

4 times, by 4 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal, Trauma

Sections:

Classifications

Tags:

cases, case3, snippets

The Mutch classification is a system used to classify isolated greater tuberosity fractures and has important therapeutic implications. It is considered reliable for isolated greater tuberosity fractures but is less reliable in multi-part proximal humeral fractures ⁴.

type 1: avulsion fracture involve a small fragment of bone and the fracture line is horizontal
type 2: split fracture involves a large fragment with a vertical fracture line
type 3: depressed fracture involves a fragment that is displaced inferiorly, the fragments are impacted into the humeral head and are generally nondisplaced

History and etymology

Jennifer Mutch et al proposed this classification system into three types in 2014 ².

Practical points

Fragments of the greater tuberosity with the rotator cuff attached characteristically have a longitudinal tear in the cuff between the supraspinatus and subscapularis tendons.