Epidemiology and classification of scapular fractures: a detailed survey on a large sample of patients

Background: Scapular fractures are rare, and few studies in the last 50 years have analyzed their epidemiology in depth. Most of these are dated, show a low sample size, or take into consideration only intra-articular fractures. Furthermore, in none of these studies recent classifications are used. Our aim was to retrospectively analyze a large number of patients to provide detailed epidemiological information about scapular fractures and to classify them with the latest classification system. Methods: Patients admitted for scapular fracture in two trauma centers over a 7-year period were enrolled. A retrospective review of the clinical and radiological data of all patients was performed by two of the authors. Information about age, gender, fracture side, traumatic mechanism, and associated fractures were collected, and all radiological images were classified according to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO)/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) classification system. Statistical analysis was performed. Females were more frequently affected by type F fractures whereas males more often presented type B fractures. Conclusions: Scapular fractures occur equally in both genders, although with different age distribution. Female patients are usually older and are mostly affected by low-energy traumas as a fall from standing height. Young males are more often subject to high-energy injuries that occur in road accidents, but with aging they become more prone to fragility fractures.