Surgical Treatment of Concomitant Scapular Spine Pseudoarthrosis and Rotator Cuff Impingement: A Case Report

Hamid Rabie; Mohammad Reza Guity; Leila Oryadi Zanjani

doi:10.18502/jost.v7i2.7006

Hamid Rabie Resident, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shariati Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Reza Guity Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shariati Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Leila Oryadi Zanjani Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shariati Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jost.v7i2.7006

Keywords: Pseudoarthrosis; Scapula; Rotator Cuff

Abstract

Background: Nonunion and pseudoarthrosis formation following scapular spine fracture is a rare condition and is limited only to case reports. Some authors reported its association with rotator cuff impingement. Standard treatment is not defined well as the condition is rare.

Case Report: Our patient was a 61-year-old man with painful nonunion in addition to cuff impingement. Surgical treatment by open reduction, internal fixation with reconstruction plate and tension band wiring, along with bone grafting led to fracture union, as well as complete resolution of the rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Conclusion: Surgical fixation seems to be the best choice in treating scapular spine pseudoarthrosis. The first attempt should be the best, so we took an aggressive approach by the use of plating, tension band wiring, and bone grafting altogether.