ISOLATED SCAPULA FRACTURE WITH INTRATHORACIC DISLOCATION: A CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Trauma Management
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Scapula fractures are uncommon, typically resulting from high-energy trauma.
• These fractures often occur with associated injuries to the head, chest, abdomen, or other skeletal structures.
• Current treatment guidelines for scapula fractures, particularly those with complications, remain debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report an extremely rare case of an isolated scapula fracture with intrathoracic fragment displacement.
• To evaluate the efficacy of conservative management for this specific type of complex scapula fracture.
• To discuss the implications for surgical indications in cases of scapular fractures with intrathoracic migration.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a patient with an isolated scapula fracture and intrathoracic fragment migration.
• Detailed clinical presentation and radiographic assessment.
• Conservative treatment protocol and follow-up evaluation of functional outcomes.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with an isolated scapula fracture without other systemic or locomotor injuries.
• The fracture fragment migrated into the thoracic cavity.
• Conservative management resulted in an excellent functional recovery without surgical intervention.

Conclusions:

• Isolated scapula fractures with intrathoracic fragment migration can be managed successfully with conservative treatment.
• This case highlights the potential for non-operative management even in complex scapula fracture scenarios.
• Conservative treatment may be a viable option, warranting further consideration for specific indications.