A van Noort1, A van Kampen. 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spaarne Hospital Hoofddorp, P.O. Box 770, 2130, AT, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands. a.van.noort01@freeler.nl
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Conservative treatment of fractures of the scapular neck does not uniformly lead to a success. The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze the occurrence of glenoid displacement in conservatively treated patients with a scapular neck fracture without concomitant shoulder girdle injury in relation with the clinical outcome. METHODS: Between 1991 and 2001, 177 patients with a fracture of the scapula were treated in two Dutch clinics. Twenty-four patients sustained a scapular neck fracture, who all, with the exception of one, were treated non-operatively. At follow-up, 13 patients had a functional evaluation and were assessed clinically at an average of 5.5 years after the injury. RESULTS: All fractures healed uneventfully. At final radiographic evaluation, four patients were found with significant translational displacement of fracture fragments (>1 cm); however, no angular displacement of the glenoid was found (no GPA < 20 degrees ). The functional outcome of the 13 patients was excellent (Constant score: 90). No correlation was found between functional outcome and malunion. There was no significant difference between the SF-36 scores in the follow-up group and the scores for age-matched controls in the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Non-operative treatment of a surgical neck fracture of the scapula in absence of an ipsilateral shoulder injury and associated permanent neurological impairment leads to a good to excellent functional outcome, with or without significant translational displacement.
BACKGROUND: Conservative treatment of fractures of the scapular neck does not uniformly lead to a success. The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze the occurrence of glenoid displacement in conservatively treated patients with a scapular neck fracture without concomitant shoulder girdle injury in relation with the clinical outcome. METHODS: Between 1991 and 2001, 177 patients with a fracture of the scapula were treated in two Dutch clinics. Twenty-four patients sustained a scapular neck fracture, who all, with the exception of one, were treated non-operatively. At follow-up, 13 patients had a functional evaluation and were assessed clinically at an average of 5.5 years after the injury. RESULTS: All fractures healed uneventfully. At final radiographic evaluation, four patients were found with significant translational displacement of fracture fragments (>1 cm); however, no angular displacement of the glenoid was found (no GPA < 20 degrees ). The functional outcome of the 13 patients was excellent (Constant score: 90). No correlation was found between functional outcome and malunion. There was no significant difference between the SF-36 scores in the follow-up group and the scores for age-matched controls in the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Non-operative treatment of a surgical neck fracture of the scapula in absence of an ipsilateral shoulder injury and associated permanent neurological impairment leads to a good to excellent functional outcome, with or without significant translational displacement.
Authors: Jack Anavian; Joseph M Conflitti; Gaurav Khanna; S Trent Guthrie; Peter A Cole Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res Date: 2011-12 Impact factor: 4.176
Authors: Christian Michelitsch; Nina Kabelitz; Herman Frima; Method Kabelitz; Reinier Beks; Philipp F Stillhard; Christoph Sommer Journal: Arch Orthop Trauma Surg Date: 2022-01-07 Impact factor: 3.067