Significance of scapular fracture in the blunt-trauma patient.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the significance of scapular fractures in blunt-trauma patients compared with blunt-trauma patients without scapular fractures.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of 11,500 blunt-trauma patients with a control group matched for age, sex, and mechanism of injury.


METHODS
Two Level I trauma centers.


METHODS
Ninety-two blunt-trauma patients with scapular fractures and 81 control patients.


RESULTS
Mortality, neurovascular injury, and injury severity scores were compared for blunt-trauma patients with scapular fractures with those of the control group. Analysis revealed a 1% incidence of scapular fractures in blunt trauma with no neurovascular injury and no mortality. Scapular fractures were associated with thoracic injury in 49% of the patients, compared with 6% in the control group (difference, 43%; 95% confidence interval, 31.6 to 51.4; P < .001, Fisher's exact test).


CONCLUSIONS
Scapular fractures are not a significant marker of greater mortality or of neurovascular morbidity in blunt-trauma patients.
Stephens
N G
NG
University of Connecticut Integrated Residency Program, Hartford, USA.
Morgan
A S
AS
Corvo
P
P
Bernstein
B A
BA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012540:Scapula / Q000293:injuries*; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality