A shovel is a bone with a triangular shape. It consists of a body, a beak-like process, an axis, an acromial process, a neck, an articular cavity, which together with the head of the humerus forms the shoulder joint.
The scapula has quite a lot of muscles.
It performs protective and motor functions in the human body.
Contents of the article
- How often does a fracture occur?
- Classification of fractures
- How to detect the presence of trauma?
- Diagnostic techniques
- First aid
- Therapy for trauma
- What kind of immobilization is used in trauma?
- Surgery as an extreme measure
- Consequences and complications of trauma
- Rehabilitation period - it is the most important
How often does a fracture occur?
Fracture of the scapula is a serious injury that occurs most often when it falls directly on the shoulder, back, or when a strong blow is made to the bone or fall area.
The most common type of injury is for men under 45 years of age, who are injured due to professional activities, sports, and participation in road accidents.
For such a trauma you need a lot of power. In general, the pathological condition is accompanied by other injuries.
Classification of fractures
Depending on the location of the injury, these types of fracture of the scapula are distinguished:
- axes;
- of the articular cavity;
- neck;
- of the coracoid process;
- of the acromial process;
- of the upper and lower corners;
- longitudinal, transverse, multi-fragment fractures;
- holey( with a bullet wound).
The most common type of damage to the scapula is a fracture of the articular cavity and acromion.
Such injuries require special treatment, after which the victim may be concerned for some time with pain.
On the photo classification of the fracture of the
scapula How to detect the presence of trauma?
Major symptoms of scapula fracture:
- swelling;
- severe pain when walking;
- crunch;
- sometimes in the armpit there are sharp edges of the injury line;
- hanging down the shoulder;
- thickening of the back of the scapula;
- pain with deep inspiration;Shoulder deformation
- .
Other organs may be involved in the trauma. This leads to untimely detection of bone trauma, which often contributes to improper fusion.
Diagnostic procedures
The main problem in diagnosing a fracture of the scapula is the late recognition of pathology.
As a rule, bone damage is accompanied by injuries of other vital organs, which must first of all be treated.
After the life of the patient does not threaten anything, the doctor can diagnose a fracture of the scapula. It happens that time is lost and the bone has time to fuse with displacement.
The diagnosis of scapula fracture is based on the radiograph in the anterior-posterior projection of , and if necessary - in other projections.
A computed tomography method is also used to confirm damage to the scapula, which helps to accurately determine the nature of the injury.
First aid
Timely rendered first aid for fracture of the scapula is the key to further successful treatment. 
The first thing to do is to ensure the immovability of the hand.
For this, the extremity from the side of the damage is suspended on the kerchief used in such cases, and a roller or a ball of cotton wool is placed under the armpits. Instead of a scarf, you can use a special bandage.
To reduce the pain syndrome, the victim is given one of the most effective pain medications and in a sitting position they are sent to a medical institution.
First aid in trauma can not only reduce the suffering of the patient, but also prevent damage to nerves, vessels, muscle ruptures, skin, displacement of fragments.
It is forbidden to correct the position of the bone by itself, to direct it.
Therapy for trauma
Treatment of any kind of fracture of the scapula begins with the administration of an anesthetic in the place of injury.
In the treatment of fragment fractures without displacement, as a rule, a conservative method is used. Initially, immobilization is carried out.
What kind of immobilization is used for trauma?
In case of a fracture of the scapula,
- Dezo dressings are used;
- reinforcing gypsum bandages;
- of the outboard tires;
- thoracobrachial plaster casts.
In addition, if the fracture of the scapula is prescribed LFK for fingers, hands, elbows.
Recovery occurs 4-5 weeks after injury, and full performance after 2 months.
Fracture of the cervix is often accompanied by an offset. Therefore, the doctor prescribes treatment for skeletal traction. This method of treatment lasts 1 month.
Then the limb is placed on a special pillow and perform therapeutic exercises. The course of gymnastics is 2 weeks.
If the fracture of the acromial process with displacement and the neck without bias is used, the gypsum thoracobranchial bandage or the outgoing tire.
Immobilization in this case lasts from 4 to 6 weeks.
Surgery as an extreme measure
Surgical method of treatment is prescribed in difficult cases, when there is a probability of gross violation of the function of the shoulder joint.
Typically, this condition can occur in fractures with a strong displacement of fragments.
The operation is performed under local anesthesia. The patient lies down on his stomach, his hand is taken to the side. On the outer edge of the scapula, a cut is made that separates the muscles.
Then open the neck of the scapula, fasten the fragments with special plates of high-strength material.
After the operation, a thoracobrachial bandage is applied for 1.5 months.
What is characteristic of myositis of the chest, is the difficulty in identifying the causes of pathology. More in detail in our article. For what other purposes is the Dezo bandage used. How to properly apply the bandage - tips, nuances and instructions - everything you need for self-banding.
Consequences and complications of injury
Fracture of the can lead to impaired motor function of the arm .
If the lesion has occurred in the articular cavity of the bone, covered with cartilage, where there is contact with the head of the humerus, we can expect dislocations in the shoulder joint. The reason is the inability to keep the head of the humerus with fragments of the joint cavity.
Fractures of this kind are often accompanied by cartilage damage, which, in turn, provokes arthrosis of the shoulder joint.
When the cervical spine is damaged, pain and dislocation often occur.
Fracture of the body of the scapula with displacement can cause its deformation, which prevents normal slip of the scapula along the ribs.
As a result, you may experience persistent pain and crunching during movement. Such consequences often occur when the fracture of the scapula is offset.
After surgery, complications can also occur in the form:
- of habitual dislocations;
- arthrosis;
- of collision syndrome;
- movement restrictions;
- Neuropathies;
- muscle atrophy.
Surgical treatment to some extent does not allow developing unwanted complications, which are difficult to treat.
Rehabilitation period - it is the most important
For effective treatment of shoulder blades, a proper role is played by proper rehabilitation, which can reduce pain and improve the work of the hand. It includes, above all, therapeutic physical education. 
After carrying out all the necessary manipulations, when the hand is fixed, on Day 2 you can proceed to exercise therapy, which consists in performing exercises for the fingers, wrist, shoulder muscles.
In some cases, if, after applying the dezo bandage, 10 days pass, the patient's arm bent at the elbow is laid on the kerchief.
Thus, the victim performs exercises for the fingers, elbow, wrist and shoulder joints. If after an injury it took about 2 weeks - you can perform hand movements by hand.
Fracture of the shoulder of the scapula requires a laying of the hand on the outgoing tire for a period of 30 days. In this case, also on day 2, you can start simple exercises for the fingers, elbow, wrist joint.
With closed fractures, exercise is scheduled for 4-5 days, with open fractures, wait for the wound to heal.
After the fracture of the scapula, some more time it is necessary to continue performing the exercises for the hands. In this case, you can successfully use a gymnastic stick or gym wall.
Gradually, you need to increase both the load and the amplitude of the movements.
With regular sessions, which need to be led quite often - up to 6 times a day full recovery occurs within a period of time from 2 to 2.5 months.
Time-assisted to reduce the suffering of the patient, to prevent damage to the nerves, blood vessels, skin, muscles, as well as the repeated displacement of fragments can protect against serious complications.
A properly prescribed treatment in combination with curative gymnastics will allow you to recover the blade as quickly as possible after a fracture.
