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Original article

Rare case of the fracture of the lateral border of the scapula associated with lesion of the brachial plexus: a case report

Rare case of the fracture of the lateral border of the scapula associated with lesion of the brachial plexus: a case report

Abdellatif Benabbouha1,&, Adil Lamkhanter1

 

1Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique I, Hôpital Militaire d’Instruction Mohamed V, Rabat, Maroc

 

 

&Corresponding author
Abdellatif Benabbouha, Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique I, Hôpital Militaire d’Instruction Mohamed V, Rabat, Maroc

 

 

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Scapular fractures are considered a very unusual injury, among studies in adults they account for 1-3% of all fractures, and 5% of fractures involving the shoulder, because the anatomic location and the soft tissues protect the scapula. Consequently, they are usually caused by high-energy vesicular trauma or by falling from a height.Conservative treatment commonly produces good or excellent results.We report a very rare case of a fracture of the lateral border of the scapula associated with lesion of the brachial plexus. A 38-year-old man injured his left shoulder in a traffic accident.In his physical examination, there was a deficit partial nervous of the brachial plexus. The X-ray examination revealed a displaced fracture of the lateral border of the scapula.A computed tomography scan with 3D reconstruction confirmed the diagnosis. Electromyographicexamination two weeks after the injury showed a compression of the brachial plexus. The fracture was treated conservatively. By 4 months after the injury there was further improvement in both sensory and motor function, and by 8 months there was sensation in the autonomous zones of both median and ulnar nerves and good return of muscle power.

 

 

Figure 1: A) radiograph of the left shoulder demonstrating fracture of the lateral border of the scapula; B and C) tomography scan with 3D reconstruction confirmed the diagnosis