SIGNIFICANCE OF SCAPULAR FRACTURE IN THE BLUNT-TRAUMA PATIENT

Study objective: To determine the significance of scapular fractures i n blunt-trauma patients compared with blunt-trauma patients without sc apular fractures. Design: Retrospective chart review of 11,500 blunt-t rauma patients with a control group matched for age, sex, and mechanis m of injury. Setting. Two Level I trauma centers. Participants: Ninety -two blunt-trauma patients with scapular fractures and 81 control pati ents. Results: Mortality, neurovascular injury, and injury severity sc ores were compared for blunt-trauma patients with scapular fractures w ith those of the control group. Analysis revealed a 1% incidence of sc apular fractures in blunt trauma with no neurovascular injury and no m ortality. Scapular fractures were associated with thoracic injury in 4 9% of the patients, compared with 6% in the control group (difference, 43%; 95% confidence interval, 31.6 to 51.4; P<.001, Fisher's exact te st). Conclusion: Scapular fractures are not a significant marker of gr eater mortality or of neurovascular morbidity in blunt-trauma patients .