summary Scapula Fractures are uncommon fractures to the shoulder girdle associated with high energy trauma, associated pulmonary or head injury, and increased injury severity scores. Diagnosis can be made with plain radiographs. CT studies are helpful for fracture characterization and for surgical planning. Treatment is generally nonoperative in a sling. Surgical management is indicated for intra-articular fractures, displaced scapular neck fractures, open fractures, and those associated with glenohumeral instability. Epidemiology Incidence Rare less than 1% of all fractures Anatomic location 50% involve body and spine Etiology Associated injuries (in 80-90%) orthopaedic rib fractures (52%) ipsilateral clavicle fracture (25%) spine fracture (29%) brachial plexus injury (5%) 75% of brachial plexus injuries resolve medical pulmonary injury pneumothorax (32%) pulmonary contusion (41%) head injury (34%) vascular injury (11%) Classification Classification is based on the location of the fracture and includes coracoid fractures acromial fractures glenoid fractures scapular neck fractures look for associated AC joint separation or clavicle fracture known as "floating shoulder" scapular body fractures described based on anatomic location scapulothoracic dissociation Coracoid Fracture Classification Type I Fracture occurs proximal to the coracoclavicular ligament Type II Fracture occurs towards the tip of the coracoid Acromial Fracture Classification Type I Nondisplaced or minimally displaced Type II Displaced but does not compromise the subacromial space Type III Displaced and compromises the subacromial space Ideberg Classification of Glenoid Fracture Type Ia Anterior rim fracture Type Ib Posterior rim fracture Type II Fracture line through glenoid fossa exiting scapula laterally Type III Fracture line through glenoid fossa exiting scapula superiorly Type IV Fracture line through glenoid fossa exiting scapula medially Type Va Combination of types II and IV Type Vb Combination of types III and IV Type Vc Combination of types II, III, and IV Type VI Severe comminution Imaging Radiographs recommended views true AP, scapular Y and axillary lateral view CT intra-articular fracture significant displacement three-dimensional reconstruction useful Treatment Nonoperative sling for 2 weeks, followed by early motion indications indicated for vast majority of scapula fractures 90% are minimally displaced and acceptably aligned outcomes union at 6 weeks can expect no functional deficits Operative open reduction internal fixation indications glenohumeral instability > 25% glenoid involvement with subluxation of humerus > 5mm of glenoid articular surface step off or major gap excessive medialization of glenoid displaced scapula neck fx with > 40 degrees angulation or 1 cm translation open fracture loss of rotator cuff function coracoid fx with > 1cm of displacement "double disruption" of the superior shoulder suspensory complex outcomes 70% good to excellent results with operative treatment Technqiues Open Reduction Internal Fixation of Scapula approach based on fracture location Judet approach is most common utilizes internervous plane between infraspinatus (suprascapular nerve) and teres minor (axillary nerve)
CPT Only CPT Codes: 23585 Open treatment of scapular fracture (body, glenoid or acromion) includes internal fixation, when performed Technique guides are not considered high yield topics for orthopaedic standardized exams including ABOS, EBOT and RC. Open treatment of scapular fracture (body, glenoid or acromion) Team Orthobullets (D) Trauma - Scapula Fractures
QUESTIONS 1 of 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Previous Next Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (OBQ15.114) A 30 year-old male is involved in a motor vehicle collision and sustains a scapular fracture. In patients with scapular fractures, what other fracture is MOST commonly observed? QID: 5799 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Spine fracture 3% (126/4453) 2 Rib fracture 87% (3862/4453) 3 Clavicle fracture 6% (268/4453) 4 Humerus fracture 1% (31/4453) 5 Pelvic fracture 3% (148/4453) L 2 Question Complexity A Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 2 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (OBQ08.134) The modified Judet approach to the posterior scapula exploits the internervous interval between what two muscles? QID: 520 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Supraspinatus and infraspinatus 7% (185/2693) 2 Supraspinatus and subscapularis 2% (49/2693) 3 Infraspinatus and teres minor 85% (2285/2693) 4 Teres minor and teres major 3% (77/2693) 5 Teres major and lattisimus 3% (77/2693) L 1 Question Complexity C Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 3 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (OBQ07.122) A patient sustains a displaced scapular neck fracture. What is the internervous plane for a posterior approach to the glenohumeral joint? QID: 783 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Lateral pectoral-axillary 1% (11/759) 2 Subscapular-musculocutaneous 2% (14/759) 3 Suprascapular-axillary 85% (643/759) 4 Long thoracic-spinal accessory 3% (19/759) 5 Suprascapular-subscapular 7% (52/759) L 1 Question Complexity B Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 3 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ06.159) A 35-year-old male is involved in a motor vehicle accident and suffers the fracture shown in Figure A. This is an isolated shoulder injury, and he has no neurologic deficits on physical exam. CT scan of the scapula shows the glenoid to be translated medially 3mm, and anglulated 20 degrees from its anatomic axis. What is the most appropriate initial treatment for this injury? QID: 345 FIGURES: A Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Immobilization in sling x 2 weeks then PT 53% (803/1501) 2 Immobilization in sling x 8 weeks then PT 7% (104/1501) 3 ORIF via a deltopectoral approach 6% (97/1501) 4 ORIF via a posterior approach 32% (484/1501) 5 ORIF via a lateral approach 0% (5/1501) L 3 Question Complexity D Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 1 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ06.266) In trauma patients with multiple injuries, patients with scapula fractures have been shown to have an association with which of the following, as compared to patients without scapula fractures? QID: 277 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Increased length of hospital stay 4% (56/1306) 2 Increased mortality rate 16% (215/1306) 3 Increased rate of extremity fracture(s) 6% (79/1306) 4 Increased Injury Severity Scores 63% (818/1306) 5 Increased length of intensive care unit stay 10% (128/1306) L 3 Question Complexity D Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 4 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK
All Videos (4) Podcasts (1) Login to View Community Videos Login to View Community Videos Cleveland Combined Hand Fellowship Lecture Series 2020-2021 Clavicle and Scapula Fractures - Shaan Patel, MD Shaan S. Patel Trauma - Scapula Fractures 2/10/2021 85 views 0.0 (0) Login to View Community Videos Login to View Community Videos scapular fracture classification and management Ahmed Attar Trauma - Scapula Fractures 7/11/2020 391 views 0.0 (0) Login to View Community Videos Login to View Community Videos 2019 Orthopaedic Trauma & Fracture Care: Pushing the Envelope Scapula Fractures: When Operating May Help - Ryan Will, MD (OTFC 2019, 3.2) Ryan Will Trauma - Scapula Fractures C 3/27/2019 700 views 3.6 (5) Trauma⎪Scapula Fractures Orthobullets Team Trauma - Scapula Fractures Listen Now 11:26 min 12/11/2019 587 plays 4.8 (6) See More See Less
Intra-articular Scapula Fracture in 61F (C101778) Jonah Hebert-Davies Trauma - Scapula Fractures B 8/13/2021 380 11 2 Floating Shoulder (C101530) Jacob Triplet Trauma - Scapula Fractures B 7/17/2020 213 4 0 Scapular Fracture in a 24M following MVC (C2767) Arungeethayan Rajniashokan Trauma - Scapula Fractures E 2/20/2017 429 9 6 See More See Less