Scapula Fracture

The Shoulder Blade (scapula) is a triangular-shaped bone that is protected by a complex system of surrounding muscles. Scapula Fractures represent less than 1% of all broken bones and many of them can be treated without surgery.

High-energy, blunt trauma injuries, such as those experienced in a motorcycle or motor vehicle collision or falling from a significant height, can cause a Scapula Fracture. Other major injuries often accompany Scapular Fractures, such as fractures in the Shoulder, collarbone and ribs, or damage to the head, lungs, or spinal cord.

Scapula Fracture

Scapular Anatomy

Types:

One or more parts of the Scapula may be fractured.

  • Scapular body (50% to 60% of patients)
  • Scapular neck (25% of patients)
  • Glenoid
  • Acromion
  • Coracoid

Symptoms:

The most common symptoms of a Scapula Fracture include :

  • Extreme pain when you move the arm
  • Swelling around the back of the shoulder
  • Scrapes around the affected area

Investigations:

X-Ray of shoulder - Anterior Posterior and Axillary view
CT Scan
MRI

Treatment:

Non-surgical Treatment: 
Non-surgical treatment with a simple sling works for most fractures of the scapula. The sling holds your Shoulder in the place while the bone gets healed. Your doctor may want you to start moving your Shoulder within the first week after the injury to minimize the risk of Shoulder and elbow stiffness. The sling is discontinued as your pain improves. Passive stretching exercises should be continued until complete shoulder motion returns. This may take 6 months to 1 year.

Surgical Treatment:

Certain types of Scapular Fractures may need surgery:

  • Fractures of the glenoid articular surface in which bone has moved out of place (displaced)
  • Fractures of the neck of the Scapula with a lot of angulations
  • Fractures of the acromion process that cause the arm bone to hit against it (impingement syndrome) During this operation, the bone fragments are first repositioned (reduced) in their normal alignment, and then held together by attaching metal plates with special screws to the outer surface of the bone.