title: Scapular Fractures in Blunt Chest Trauma - Self-Experience Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this retrospective study was to report the scapular fractures in patients with blunt chest trauma and to present the type and the frequency of associated thoracic injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients with fractures of the scapula were included in the study. The mechanisms of the injury, the type of scapular fractures and associated thoracic injuries were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scapular fractures were caused by high-energy blunt chest trauma. The body of the scapula was fractured in all scapular fractures. In all cases, scapular fractures were associated with other thoracic injuries (average 3.25/per case). Rib fractures were present in eight patients, fractured clavicula - in four cases, the affection of pleural cavity - in eight of the patients and pulmonary contusion in all nine cases. Eight patients were discharged from the hospital up to the 15th day. One patient had died on the 3rd day because of postconcussional lung oedema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study confirms the role of scapular fractures as a marker for the severity of the chest trauma (based on the number of associated thoracic injuries), but doesn't present scapular fractures as an indicator for high mortality in blunt chest trauma patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Belhoul European Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Tabet A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Al-Sadek
authors.affiliation: Trakia University, Faculty of Medicine, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Desislav
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Niklev
authors.affiliation: Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Sadek
authors.affiliation: Trakia University, Faculty of Medicine, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Al-Sadek
keywords: associated injuries; fractured scapula; pulmonary contusion; rib fractures; thoracic trauma