Scapula Fracture

Excerpt

The earliest description of a shoulder fracture was published in 1805 in P.J. Desault’s Treatise on Fractures and Luxations, and other affections of the bones. Scapular fractures are uncommon, accounting for approximately 3-5% of all fractures of the shoulder girdle and less than 1% of total fractures. This is thought to be because they typically required high-energy trauma which also results in multi-system injuries. Research shows that 80-95% of scapular fractures are associated with other injuries. Because of the high energy needed to fracture the scapula and its association with other injuries, morbidity and mortality reports are relatively high. However, emerging data has shown that scapular fractures with lower injury severity scores (ISS) do not carry the same associated increase in morbidity and mortality. Treatment for scapular fractures was traditionally conservative with closed treatment; however, evaluation by an orthopedic trauma surgeon be the norm, as newer advancements in operative treatment have improved functional outcomes, and significant displacement is associated with poor long-term outcomes.