Snapping scapula: a review of the literature and presentation of 14 patients

The syndrome of pain at the vertebral edge of the scapula and snapping associated with movement of the shoulder that occurs spontaneously after trauma or surgical procedures to the shoulder girdle is relatively common. The snapping is described in the literature as being due to an exostosis on the undersurface of the vertebral angle of the scapula, which rides across the rib cage. The pain has been reported to be the result of inflamed bursae located between the scapula and adjacent thorax or over the scapular exostosis. This retrospective study of a small group of patients with the syndrome attempts to define, by detailed x-ray studies, the presence or absence of exostosis at the vertebral angle. In none of these cases was a bony abnormality or exostosis identified clinically or radiologically. The irritating symptoms can be relieved by physiotherapy; surgery is unnecessary.