title: [Scapula alata following a gunshot injury].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical condition "winged scapula" (scapula alata) is frequently not recognized as such. The accompanying symptoms are often attributed to more frequently occurring shoulder disorders, which can lead to unnecessary surgical procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 41-year-old man was shot during a robbery 3 years ago, resulting in a complete paraplegia from the fourth thoracic vertebra downwards. Within a year of the attack, during rehabilitation towards wheelchair use, he developed pain around his right shoulder. He also had diminished strength when extending his right arm and problems with trunk balance. These symptoms were long thought to be caused by shoulder overuse during wheelchair use, but turned out to be a consequence of injury to the long thoracic nerve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shoulder symptoms due to scapula alata can be caused be a penetrating wound leading to nerve injury. The treatment of patients with a scapula alata calls for a multidisciplinary approach.
authors.affiliation: Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Dirk P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: ter Meulen
authors.forename: Alexander A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Weening
authors.forename: Janneke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stolwijk
authors.forename: Jeldican
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: W Jaap
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.forename: Derek F P
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: van Deurzen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D012540:Scapula / Q000294:innervation*; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D013900:Thoracic Nerves / Q000293:injuries*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications*