Abstract
Fractures of the scapula due to direct violence are relatively common. Wilber and Evans [18] reported 40 scapular fractures and reviewed the literature. All those injured had received direct trauma to the shoulder and they were able to divide their cases into two groups, based on anatomical location and functional results. Scapular fractures due to avulsion of the muscular attachments are uncommon and, as reports of these injuries in the literature are usually confined to single cases, no classification has been established which takes account of the anatomical sites at which these fractures occur and the mechanism of injury involved.
In this paper the more common sites of avulsion injury of the scapula are described and illustrated by case reports. In several of these the skeletal injury resulted from muscle contraction against a resisted force on the upper limb during the course of an accident. This mechanism has been implicated in fractures of the coracoid and acromion, but is shown in this paper to contribute to other avulsion fractures.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bennett GE (1941) Shoulder and elbow lesions of the professional baseball pitcher. JAMA 117:510
Benton J, Nelson C (1971) Avulsion of the coracoid process in an athlete. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 53:356
Boyer DW Jr (1975) Trapshooter's shoulder: stress fracture of the coracoid process. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 57:862
Brower AC, Neff JR, Tillema DA (1977) An unusual scapular stress fracture. AJR 129:519
De Rosa GP, Kettlekamp DB (1977) Fracture of the coracoid process of the scapula. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 59:969
Froimson AI (1978) Fracture of the coracoid process of the scapula. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 60:710
Hayes JM, Zehr DJ (1981) Traumatic muscle avulsion causing winging of the scapula. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 63:495
Imatani RJ (1975) Fractures of the scapula. A review of 53 fractures. J Trauma 15:473
Ishizuki M, Yamaura I, Isobe Y, Furuya K, Tawabe K, Nagatsuka Y (1981) Avulsion fracture of the superior border of the scapula. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 63:820
Kelly JP (1954) Fractures complicating electroconvulsive therapy and chronic epilepsy. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 36:70
Peraino RA, Weinman EJ, Schloeder FX (1977) Unusual fractures during convulsions in two patients with renal osteodystrophy. South Med J 70:595
Ramin JE, Veit H (1953) Fracture of scapula during electroshock therapy. Am J Psychiatry 110:153
Rask MR, Steinberg LH (1978) Fracture of the acromion caused by muscle forces. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 60:1146
Rounds RC (1949) Isolated fracture of the coracoid process. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 31:662
Samuel E (1943) Some complications arising during electrical convulsive therapy. J Mental Science 89:81
Steindler A, Manxer JL (1947) The traumatic deformities and disabilities of the upper extremities. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, p 114
Tarquinio T, Weinstein ME, Virgilio W (1979) Bilateral scapular fractures from accidental electric shock. J Trauma 19:132
Wilber MC, Evans EB (1977) Fractures of the scapula. An analysis of 40 cases and a review of the literature. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 59:358
Wolf AE, Shoji H, Chuinard RG (1976) Unusual fracture of the coracoid process. A case report and review of the literature. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 58:423
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Heyse-Moore, G.H., Stoker, D.J. Avulsion fractures of the scapula. Skeletal Radiol 9, 27–32 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00367377
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00367377