Scapular fracture: Lower severity and mortality

Javad Salimi, Ali Khaji*, Mojgan Karbakhsh, Soheil Saadat, Behzad Eftekhar

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Context and Objective: The presence of scapular fracture is believed to be associated with high rates of other injuries and accompanying morbidities. The aim was to study injury patterns and their overall outcomes in patients with scapula fractures. Design and Setting: Cross-sectional study of trauma patients treated at six general hospitals in Tehran. Methods: One-year trauma records were obtained from six general hospitals Among these, forty-one had sustained a scapular fracture and were included in this study. Results: Scapular fracture occurred predominantly among 20 to 50-year-old patients (78%). Road traffic accidents (RTAs) were the main cause of injury (73.2%; 30/41). Pedestrians accounted for 46.7% (14/30) of the injuries due to RTAs. Falls were the next most common cause, accounting for seven cases (17.1%). Body fractures were the most common type of scapular fractures (80%). Eighteen patients (43.9%) had isolated scapular fractures. Limb fracture was the most common associated injury, detected in 18 cases (43.9%). Three patients (7.3%) had severe injuries (injury severity score, IS ≥ 16) which resulted in one death (2.4%). The majority of the patients were treated conservatively (87.8%). Conclusions: Patients with scapula fractures have more severe underlying chest injuries and clavicle fractures. However, this did not correlate with higher rates of injury severity score, intensive care unit admission or mortality. Copyright © 2008, Associação Paulista de Medicina.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)186-189
Number of pages4
JournalSao Paulo Medical Journal
Volume126
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - May 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Fractures bone
  • Injury severity score
  • Mortality
  • Multiple trauma
  • Scapula

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Scapular fracture: Lower severity and mortality'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this