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Significance of scapular fracture in the blunt-trauma patient
N G Stephens1, A S Morgan, P Corvo
1University of Connecticut Integrated Residency Program, Hartford, USA.
Study Objective:
To determine the significance of scapular fractures in blunt-trauma patients compared with blunt-trauma patients without scapular fractures.
Design:
Retrospective chart review of 11,500 blunt-trauma patients with a control group matched for age, sex, and mechanism of injury.
Setting:
Two Level I trauma centers.
Participants:
Ninety-two blunt-trauma patients with scapular fractures and 81 control patients.
Results:
Mortality, neurovascular injury, and injury severity scores were compared for blunt-trauma patients with scapular fractures with those of the control group. Analysis revealed a 1% incidence of scapular fractures in blunt trauma with no neurovascular injury and no mortality. Scapular fractures were associated with thoracic injury in 49% of the patients, compared with 6% in the control group (difference, 43%; 95% confidence interval, 31.6 to 51.4; P < .001, Fisher's exact test).
Conclusion:
Scapular fractures are not a significant marker of greater mortality or of neurovascular morbidity in blunt-trauma patients.