Fracture of the body, neck, or spine of the scapula. A long-term follow-up study.

Fractures of the scapula are often considered benign lesions with a favorable outcome. The aim of the current study was to analyze the long-term results after fracture of the muscle-covered parts of the scapula: its body, neck, and spine. Sixty-eight patients were available for clinical examination 14 years after they had sustained a fracture of the scapula. The fractures had been treated with immobilization and early active motion. The follow-up rating was based on patient satisfaction and shoulder motion. Fifty-one patients were rated good, 15 were rated fair, and two were rated poor. Forty-eight shoulders were roentgenographically reexamined. Fourteen had a moderate and six had a pronounced deformity of the scapula. Scapula deformity was associated with pain in eight of the shoulders. The results of the current study suggest that the long-term course after fracture of the scapula is not uniformly favorable. Fifty percent of the patients with residual scapula deformity have shoulder symptoms. In most cases, however, the shoulder disablement is slight or moderate.