Comparing Single and Dual Plating in Displaced Scapular Body Fractures: A Retrospective Study of Clinical and...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Traumatology
• Skeletal biomechanics

Background:

• Scapular body fractures can lead to glenohumeral joint pain and functional impairment.
• Surgical intervention is often necessary for displaced or malunited fractures.
• Comparing fixation techniques is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of single-plating versus dual-plating techniques for scapular body fractures.
• To evaluate differences in pain, function, and active range of motion (aROM).
• To assess the time to return to work after surgical fixation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 28 patients with scapular fractures.
• Sixteen patients underwent single plating, and twelve received dual plating.
• Outcomes measured included Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, aROM, and return to work time.

Main Results:

• Dual plating showed significantly lower DASH scores and VAS pain scores at 2 and 4 weeks post-surgery.
• At 1 year, the dual plating group exhibited improved external rotation (p=0.032).
• Dual plating was associated with an earlier return to work (Hazard Ratio = 3.346, p=0.020).

Conclusions:

• Dual plating offers superior early pain relief and functional recovery for scapular fractures compared to single plating.
• Enhanced external rotation and faster return to work favor the dual plating technique.
• Further randomized trials are warranted to confirm these findings and explore optimal patient selection.