Fractured Scapula, Posterior View

Description

Viewed from the posterior thoracic wall, the right scapula sits lateral to the upper ribs, with the scapular spine running transversely toward the acromion and dividing the supraspinous fossa superiorly from the infraspinous fossa inferiorly. Fracture lines track along the spine and extend into the supraspinous fossa, with additional radiating cracks suggesting a high-energy pattern rather than a simple avulsion. The glenoid cavity remains at the lateral angle, where the proximal humerus articulates, while adjacent rib contours and a segment of vertebral column provide bony landmarks for orientation. Scapular fractures are uncommon and, when present, often signal major trauma, classically from a motor-vehicle collision or a direct blow to the posterior shoulder. A fracture through the scapular spine and into the supraspinous fossa has practical implications for the posterior shoulder girdle, because the spine anchors the deltoid (inferior lip) and trapezius (superior lip), and displacement can disturb the force couple that stabilizes the glenohumeral joint. This posterior perspective also helps correlate the injury with associated findings you would evaluate clinically and on CT, including acromial involvement, glenoid extension, and concurrent rib fractures. Orthopedic and trauma education will benefit from this plate as a teaching figure for scapular fracture classification, displacement assessment, and surgical approach planning (posterior Judet exposure versus nonoperative management). It also suits radiology and anatomy instruction when explaining the relationship between the scapula, the thoracic cage, and glenohumeral mechanics in the setting of high-energy injury. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.