Scapular fracture: lower severity and mortality.
OBJECTIVE
The presence of scapular fracture is believed to be associated with high rates of other injuries and accompanying morbidities. The aim was to study injury patterns and their overall outcomes in patients with scapula fractures.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of trauma patients treated at six general hospitals in Tehran.


METHODS
One-year trauma records were obtained from six general hospitals Among these, forty-one had sustained a scapular fracture and were included in this study.


RESULTS
Scapular fracture occurred predominantly among 20 to 50-year-old patients (78%). Road traffic accidents (RTAs) were the main cause of injury (73.2%; 30/41). Pedestrians accounted for 46.7% (14/30) of the injuries due to RTAs. Falls were the next most common cause, accounting for seven cases (17.1%). Body fractures were the most common type of scapular fractures (80%). Eighteen patients (43.9%) had isolated scapular fractures. Limb fracture was the most common associated injury, detected in 18 cases (43.9%). Three patients (7.3%) had severe injuries (injury severity score, ISS >or= 16) which resulted in one death (2.4%). The majority of the patients were treated conservatively (87.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with scapula fractures have more severe underlying chest injuries and clavicle fractures. However, this did not correlate with higher rates of injury severity score, intensive care unit admission or mortality.
Salimi
Javad
J
Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Sina General Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Khaji
Ali
A
Karbakhsh
Mojgan
M
Saadat
Soheil
S
Eftekhar
Behzad
B
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002968:Clavicle / Q000293:injuries; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000401:mortality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000401:mortality*; D012540:Scapula / Q000293:injuries*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology