BROKEN SHOULDER BLADE

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Broken Shoulder Blade Symptoms

• Resting pain
• Extreme pain when moving the arm.
• Inflammation in the region behind the shoulder.
• Extensive bruising and scrapes in the affected area.
• Holding the injured arm close to the body with the shoulder at a 90-degree angle and the elbow with shoulder internal rotation.
• Inability to raise one’s arm.
• A flattened and deformed appearance of the shoulders.
• Breathing difficulty as a result of the associated chest wall injury.
• Arm numbness, tingling, or coldness due to a lack of blood and nerve supply.
• Crepitus and popping noises at the end of shoulder joint movements.

Diagnosis

If you come to our medical practice, our doctor will most likely need to take X-rays of your child’s shoulder and chest to describe and classify the location(s) of the fracture to the scapula. Our doctor may also need to use other diagnostic imaging tools, such as computed tomography to identify the following:

1. The fracture of one or more scapular bones
2. Scapular body (50 percent to 60 percent of patients).
3. Scapular neck (in 25 percent of cases).
4. Other broken bones

Further analysis will ensure that everything gets checked out.  Additionally, our doctor will treat any soft-tissue damage (abrasions, open wounds, and muscular trauma). Because of other injuries, your doctor may request a thorough neurovascular examination.

Broken Shoulder Blade Treatment

After the first week, your doctor may recommend rehabilitation exercises to reduce the risk of elbow and shoulder stiffness. Stretching exercises should continue until your child has full shoulder motion again. This could take anywhere between 6 months and a year. Pediatric orthopedic specialists are experts in treating non-displaced and displaced shoulder fractures with the most up-to-date non-surgical and surgical techniques. Our doctors can treat some shoulder fractures noninvasively, whereas other fractures may require more complex surgical procedures to repair the broken bone. Your child’s treatment plan may necessarily require both conservative and surgical procedures. Our Doctors can treat the majority of non-displaced shoulder fractures with conservative methods such as:

• Immobilization of the arm with a sling or wrap while the bones heal.
• Pain relievers are taken orally.
• Range-of-motion exercises and physical therapy (to begin once the bones have started to heal and under the close supervision of a physical therapist).

Nonsurgical Treatment

Nonsurgical treatments include the following:

Preventing movement with a sling or shoulder immobilizer

For added stability, shoulder immobilizers may include additional straps and cuffs for the arm, wrist, and fingers. The shoulder should stay immobilized until the pain subsides, which takes 3 to 4 weeks depending on the type and severity of the fracture.

Taking pain relievers to help with pain and swelling

Doctors will recommend Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen and ibuprofen to help with pain.  Patients should not take these pain relievers before surgery because they can cause excessive bleeding. Applying ice to the affected area regularly to reduce swelling. To avoid ice burn, cover the ice pack with a towel or cloth. A therapist may monitor a person’s pain, inflammation, and posture while they recover from nonsurgical treatment. Our doctors recommend including a strengthening program. It can take 6 to 12 months to regain full shoulder motion. Non-surgical treatment of shoulder blade fractures normally becomes successful. Fractures of the scapular neck or glenoid, on the other hand, may necessarily require surgical intervention.

Surgical treatment

If the glenoid or scapular neck gets injured, surgeons may recommend an operation to repair the broken scapula. Furthermore, if the clavicle becomes fractured, either the clavicle, the scapula, or both may require surgical fixation. Surgeons use plates and screws to protect the scapula. Surgeons make large incisions over the back of the shoulder blade or in the armpit to repair a broken shoulder blade. The procedure can take several hours. Surgeons prefer to perform this surgery within 1-2 weeks of the injury. As a result, patients have time to seek a second opinion on treatment if they require additional information or surgeon input. Parents should choose their child’s pediatric orthopedic surgeon wisely. The lung, as well as several important blood vessels and nerves, are located beneath the scapula. Extensive surgical experience can help achieve good results and avoid complications.

Shoulder fracture surgery

At Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists, we have the expertise to treat complex surgical cases such as fracture non-unions or malunions (broken bones that haven’t healed or haven’t healed properly) and other serious traumatic shoulder fractures. We often treat injuries that necessarily require multiple surgeries. Our orthopedic shoulder surgeons are skilled at bone grafting as well as muscle and ligament reconstruction or repair.

We collaborate with plastic surgeons who have specialized training in helping reconstruct soft tissues in the shoulder for certain shoulder fractures with extensive damage to the surrounding skin and muscles. For more serious shoulder fractures, we consistently combine highly advanced surgical specialties to ensure the best possible outcome. Our surgeons are actively developing techniques and technologies to make shoulder surgeries more efficient and comfortable for patients. Because there are numerous types of shoulder bones, treatment for shoulder fractures will differ depending on the area of the shoulder that has been injured and the severity of the fracture.

Shoulder Fracture Fixation Surgery

If the bones are displaced or an open fracture (the bone has broken through the skin) occurs, surgery will occur to repair the fracture as well as any damaged ligaments, tendons, or muscles. Our Orthopedic surgeons will use specialized hardware such as plates, screws, or pins to lock the bones back into place. In some cases, surgeons will perform bone grafting and soft tissue repair, such as ligament and tendon repair. Patients should know that shoulder replacement may occur in some severe fracture cases.

Partial Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Doctors may install a partial shoulder replacement if your child has a severe shoulder fracture. We use a conventional shoulder replacement device, consisting of a metal ball and stem, to replace the damaged ball and upper portion of the arm bone during this procedure. Individuals who have a partial shoulder replacement experience less pain, improved function, and increased range of motion, resulting in a higher quality of life.

Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement

A severe shoulder fracture may necessarily require a reverse total shoulder replacement in some cases. The socket and metal ball become switched in a reverse total shoulder replacement:  The socket attaches to the metal ball, and the humerus attaches to the plastic cup. Individuals who undergo a reverse total shoulder replacement experience less pain and better function and range of motion.

Non-Union and Malunion Shoulder Fracture Surgery

A non-union occurs when a broken bone does not heal properly. A malunion consists of a broken bone that heals in an incorrect position, frequently resulting in a deformity. Our surgeons may conduct surgery to remove an infection, stabilize the fracture, or stimulate bone growth with a bone graft. To repair the most complex non-union and malunion cases, our orthopedic surgeons possess the knowledge, skills, and expertise to ensure a complete recovery

Pediatric orthopedic surgeons use vascularized bone grafting to repair complex non-union surgical repairs. Vascularized bone grafts enable the transplantation of living bone tissue to replace damaged bone tissue. At Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists, our practice offers vascularized bone grafting.

Recovery From a Broken Shoulder Blade Surgery

The use of surgery provides a treatment for the child to regain as much shoulder strength, range of motion, and function as possible. Your child will need plenty of rest after surgery, as well as to keep your child’s shoulder and arm immobilized in a sling or wrap. Once the bones have started to heal, the parents will work with a physical therapist who will recommend exercises to help their child regain mobility and function.

Why choose Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists medical practice for the treatment of broken bones for several reasons:

Parents Should Choose Our Practice Because We Have:

• Specialized Pediatric Care: Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists is a medical practice dedicated specifically to pediatric orthopedics. Parents often seek specialized care for their children to ensure that the healthcare providers have expertise in treating musculoskeletal issues unique to children and adolescents.
• Experienced Orthopedic Specialists: The practice boasts a team of board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons who specialize in treating pediatric patients.
• Child-Friendly Environment: Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists is designed to provide a child-friendly and comfortable environment.
• Comprehensive Care: The practice offers a comprehensive range of services, including the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions in children.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities: The practice is equipped with advanced technology and facilities, including imaging services (such as X-rays), to accurately diagnose and monitor broken bones.
• Collaborative Approach: The medical practice often emphasizes a collaborative approach to care by working closely with other healthcare professionals.
• Focus on Pediatric Growth and Development: Orthopedic care for children involves consideration of their growth and development.
• Reputation and Trust: Parents may choose this practice based on its reputation in the community and positive patient reviews. Trust in the healthcare providers and the facility’s track record can be important factors in their decision.
• Personalized treatment and urgent pediatric care services at all of our four locations — Arlington, Dallas, Flower Mound, Frisco, and McKinney, TX.

Overall, parents choose Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists for broken bones and other orthopedic concerns in their children because it offers specialized care, experienced professionals, child-friendly facilities, and a comprehensive approach to treatment, all of which contribute to the well-being and recovery of their children.

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Footnote:

WebMD: Broken Shoulder Blade