Scapula Fracture

Symptoms of a Scapula Fracture

• Sudden pain in the back of the shoulder.
• Pain when trying to move the shoulder or upper back.
• Difficulty raising the arms above the head.
• Tenderness over the shoulder blade.
• Swelling.
• Crepitus (creaking or clicking) when moving the arm.

Causes

Scapula fractures (broken shoulder blades) are caused by either a direct impact to the scapula from a blunt object, or from a fall onto the arm or shoulder. Car crashes are amongst the most common causes of the injury.

Treatment

• If a fracture is suspected, seek medical attention.
• An X-ray can be used to confirm and determine the extent of injury or displacement.
• A doctor will also perform an examination, checking for signs of neural or vascular injury such as numbness, tingling, weakness or a reduced pulse in the arm.
• In most cases a scapula fracture is treated conservatively - without surgery - as displacement of the bones is rare due to the muscles holding the two (or more) parts close together.
• The arm may be immobilised in a sling to reduce the weight of the arm on the shoulder.
• Early range of motion exercises are encouraged to maintain should movement and prevent stiffness.
• Most scapular fractures heal in around 6 weeks.
• Once pain free strengthening exercises can be used to regain full strength and maintain healthy movement patterns at the shoulder.
• In cases where the bone is fractured into multiple pieces or the bones are displaced considerably, then surgery may be required to fix the scapula back together using wires or pins.