Broken shoulder blade

The shoulder blade is a triangular, flat bone that lies on the back of the rib cage. A broken shoulder blade is very rare; less than 1 percent of all fractures involve a fracture of the shoulder blade.

How does a fracture of the shoulder blade occur?

Because of the good protection, a serious accident is the cause of the fracture in all cases. This is called a ‘high-energy trauma’ (HET). It is an accident in which a lot of energy is released due to high speed or force. Examples include a hard collision during a traffic accident or a fall from a height onto the back.

As a result of such high-energy trauma, there is often also (serious) additional damage. Think of broken ribs or vertebrae, head injury, or a collapsed lung. This additional damage can be life-threatening. It is therefore important to intervene in time.

Characteristics (symptoms) of a shoulder blade fracture

Sharp, stabbing pain immediately after the injury is characteristic of a broken shoulder blade. The pain increases with movements of the arm. After the fracture, localized swelling and bruising may occur.

How is a shoulder blade fracture diagnosed?

Due to the accident, people usually end up in the hospital immediately. The examination starts here with röntgenfoto’s of the shoulder blade and the chest. These images provide more information about the exact location and severity of the fracture. In addition, the additional damage, such as broken ribs or vertebrae, can be assessed well on these röntgenfoto’s.

Sometimes it is necessary to also make a CT scan and/or MRI scan. These scans are especially useful for visualizing damage to other tissues. Think of nearby muscles, nerves, and blood vessels.

Treatment of a shoulder blade fracture

Treatment of a broken shoulder blade is often conservative, which means without surgery. The shoulder is then kept in the same position for 3 to 6 weeks with a arm sling or shoulder sling so that the bone can heal properly.

A possible reason to perform surgery is when the bone fragments are displaced. During surgery, the surgeon uses metal plates and screws to fix the bone fragments together again.

Almost immediately after surgery, or after the rest period with a sling, you can start exercise therapy. The doctor or physical therapist from the hospital usually already provides simple exercises for at home.

Further treatment focuses on improving mobility and regaining muscle strength around the shoulder blade. It is wise to do this under the guidance of a physical therapist. They have a lot of knowledge about the exercises and how to build them up.