Percutaneous Arthroscopic-assisted Glenoid Fixation: A Novel Surgical Technique

Scapular fractures are rare injuries and are often an indicator of high-energy trauma. These injuries are rare, and many are managed without surgery. The caveat to this is intra-articular extension into the glenoid when AO Foundation principles of fracture fixation for intra-articular injuries must be adhered to. We report a percutaneous arthroscopically assisted technique for fixation of a scapular fracture with extension into the glenoid fossa in a young male patient.

A 22-year-old Caucasian male presented to the emergency department after a road traffic collision. Primary assessment and secondary surgery demonstrated an isolated shoulder injury involving the glenoid. Three-dimensional imaging was performed and revealed an intra-articular glenoid fracture with the involvement of the superior suspensory apparatus of the shoulder, not fitting into known classification systems. He underwent an arthroscopically assisted percutaneous screw fixation, which resulted in reduction of the suspensory apparatus and the glenoid fossa.

Intra-articular glenoid involvement in scapular fractures mandates anatomical reduction through internal fixation. We highlight that this technique is of benefit in these injuries and is easy and quick to perform. Validated outcomes, in this case, have been excellent, with no adverse events.