Thoracoscapular fusion for facioscapulohumeral dystrophy.

Eleven thoracoscapular fusion operations have been done on six patients. The indication is symptomatic winging of the scapula caused by thoracoscapular muscle paresis with intact function in the deltoid. This situation almost exclusively occurs in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy. The operation is successful in achieving stability of the scapula and in greatly improving function and cosmesis. Although the course of this type of muscular dystrophy is variable, the benefits of operation have not deteriorated with progression of the disease over a maximum follow-up period of twenty-three years.