Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
Overview
Fractures of the shoulder blade are relatively uncommon injuries that result in pain and swelling in the shoulder region. These injuries are caused by high-energy, blunt trauma incidents, such as hard falls or car accidents. This type of fracture is typically treated nonsurgically but may need surgery, depending on the severity. Often, shoulder blade fractures can result in more severe injuries to the lungs, chest, and internal organs. For this reason, it is important to seek medical attention if you think you have fractured your shoulder blade.
Anatomy
Your shoulder consists of three bones: your upper arm bone (humerus), your shoulder blade (scapula), and your collarbone (clavicle). The head of your upper arm bone fits into a rounded socket (the glenoid) in your shoulder blade. Your shoulder blade is a triangular-shaped bone that is protected by a complex system of surrounding muscles.

A combination of muscles and tendons, known as the rotator cuff, keep your arm bone centered in your shoulder socket. The rotator cuff covers the head of your upper arm bone and attaches it to your shoulder blade.
Description
Fractures of the shoulder blade occur during high-energy, blunt trauma injuries, such as car accidents or falls from a significant height. These injuries are often accompanied by other injuries to the chest, lungs, and internal organs. For this reason, it is essential to contact your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician as soon as possible to prevent your injuries from worsening.
Fortunately, these types of fractures are not common, as they represent less than 1% of all broken bones. Shoulder blade fractures occur most often to men ages 25 to 45.
Symptoms
There are several common symptoms of shoulder blade fractures. These symptoms include:
- Extreme pain when moving your arm.
- Swelling around the back of the shoulder.
- Bruising around the shoulder.
- Scrapes around the affected area.
Seek emergency medical attention immediately if you experience the following:
- Shortness of breath.
- Decreased sensation in the affected arm.
- Abdominal pain.

Diagnosis
Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will look at your symptoms and check the position and posture of your shoulder. Since other injuries usually go with shoulder blade fractures, your physician will also look for additional damage.
Your physician may order some imaging tests of your shoulder and chest to determine the extent of your injury, such as X-rays, MRI, and CT scans:
- X-rays provide clear images of dense structures like bone.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the shoulder are sometimes needed to diagnose fractures of the shoulder socket (glenoid).
- Computed Tomography (CT) scan provides a more detailed image of bones, organs and soft tissues.
Treatment Overview
There are both surgical and nonsurgical treatments to treat fractures of the shoulder blade. For the most part, they can be treated solely with nonsurgical means. But if the shoulder blade bones are displaced and will not heal correctly, surgery may be needed.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Depending on the severity of your shoulder blade fracture, you may only need nonsurgical treatments to heal your injury. Immediately after the injury, it is important to stop moving your arm and apply ice to reduce swelling and discomfort. Typically, nonsurgical treatments involve a sling, which holds the shoulder in place while the bone heals.
Your physician may also want you to start moving your shoulder within the first week after the injury to minimize the risk of shoulder and elbow stiffness. As the pain begins to go away, the sling will eventually not be needed. Stretching exercises should continue until complete shoulder motion returns, which may take six months to 1 year.
Surgical Treatment
If the shoulder blade fracture is severe or if it cannot heal on its own, surgical treatments may be necessary. During the surgical procedure, the shoulder blade bone fragments are first repositioned back to their normal alignment and then held in place by attaching metal plates with special screws to the outer surface of the bone.
Next Steps
Contact your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician today to learn more about fractures of the shoulder blade.
Areas of Focus
- Shoulder
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Bankart Repair
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Broken Collarbone
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Fractures Of The Shoulder:
Specialties
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- ALIF: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion
- Arthritis & Adult Reconstruction Surgery
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Back Surgery Types
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- CARTIVA® Implant For Big Toe Joint Arthritis
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Community Outreach
- ConforMIS Knee Replacement
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discitis
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus - Cheilectomy
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Upper Extremity
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- MACI
- MAKO Knee Replacement Surgery
- MAKO Total Hip Replacement
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- NAVIO Surgical System
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Physician?
- Primary Care Orthopedics Sports Medicine
- PROstep™ Minimally Invasive Surgery for Bunions
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Revision Knee Surgery
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- ROSA® Knee Robotic Surgical Assistant
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sprained Ankle
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Verilast
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Sprains
- Wrist Tendonitis