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Until now, classifications of coracoid fractures have been based on plain radiographs, without use of 3D CT reconstructions. Therefore, the aim of the present study has been to describe the pathoanatomy of these fractures and their associated injuries to the shoulder girdle, on the basis of 3D CT reconstructions. The cohort comprised 39 patients, who each sustained a coracoid fracture investigated with 3D CT reconstructions. The patients were assessed in terms of age, gender, pathoanatomy of the coracoid fracture, fractures of other parts of the scapula, and associated injuries to the shoulder girdle. We identified 24 fractures of the base, one fracture of the beak body, eight fractures of the apex, and six comminuted fractures of the coracoid process. A total of 22 associated injuries were found (7 fractures of the acromion, 5 fractures of the anterior glenoid rim, 3 fractures of the superior glenoid, 1 fracture of the inferior glenoid, 4 fractures of the surgical neck, 2 fractures of the scapular body) and 18 other associated injuries to the shoulder girdle (8 AC dislocations, 5 proximal humeral fractures, and 5 clavicular fractures). On the basis of 3D CT reconstructions, four basic coracoid fracture patterns were identified. The authors´ findings and literature review have shown that a considerable number of coracoid fractures are combined with injuries to other parts of scapula and shoulder girdle. These associated injuries must be taken into account and targeted when taking the patient’s history, and during clinical and primarily radiological examinations.

The Tikhoff-Linberg procedure is a limb salvage technique for tumours of the shoulder girdle which preserves function of the hand and elbow; however, shoulder function is limited. A humeral cap endoprosthesis (Stryker Orthopedics, Mahwah, NJ, USA) was developed within the Modular Replacement System (MRS) to act as a functional spacer for these defects; however, the outcomes of this implant have not been described. Thirty-three (17 male, 16 female) patients underwent a Tikhoff-Linberg procedure at our institution. Of these, 17 (11 females, 6 males) were reconstructed with a MRS humerus endoprosthesis. Outcomes and complications were compared between patients who were reconstructed (n = 17) and those who were not (n = 16). Complications occurred in 14 (42%) patients, with more complications in patients who were reconstructed (n = 11, 65% vs. n = 3, 19%, p = 0.01). Endoprosthetic complications included stress shielding of the bone/prosthesis interface (n = 7, 41%) and subluxation/instability (n = 5, 29%), leading to a revision surgery in two (12%). Post-operatively, the mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score (MSTS93) was 67 ± 11%, with no difference in the mean MSTS93 between patients who were reconstructed and those who were not (67 ± 10% vs. 68 ± 12%, p = 0.77). Reconstruction with a MRS humerus cap endoprosthesis resulted in a high rate of complications following a Tikhoff-Linberg procedure. Stress shielding and subluxation were common, and as such, the use of this prosthesis is limited to cases where a standard implant is not a feasible option.

The aim of the article is to present the pathoanatomy and a new classification of glenoid fractures developed on the basis of analysis of 3D computed tomography (CT) examinations and intra-operative findings. The study group comprised 90 patients (69 men and 21 women) who sustained glenoid fractures. Mean patient age was 47 years (17-92). In 77 nonpolytraumatised patients, anteroposterior (AP) radiographs of the affected shoulder girdle were taken, including Neer I and II views. All 90 patients underwent CT examination, combined in 73 of them with 3D CT reconstruction including subtraction of the humeral head, ribs and clavicle, from the anterior and posterolateral views. In total, 52 patients (58 %) were operated on and 38 42 %) were treated non-operatively. In total, five basic types of injuries to the glenoid were identified based on analysis of the separated portion of the glenoid fossa: including fractures of the superior glenoid (14 cases, 16 %), the anterior glenoid (23 cases, 23 %), the posterior rim of the glenoid (5 cases, 6 %), the inferior glenoid (38 cases, 42 %) and the entire glenoid (10 cases, 11 %). The proposed classification of glenoid fractures defines five basic types of fractures verified by 3D CT reconstructions and intra-operative findings. It respects the anatomical architecture of scapula, fracture mechanism, associated injuries to the shoulder girdle and, where appropriate, the preferred surgical approach.

Sternal fractures are rare with 3–8 % out of the total number of trauma cases mostly caused by direct impact to the anterior chest wall. Most cases described are due to motor vehicle crash either caused by direct impact to the steering wheel or by the seat belt. Fractures mainly occur to the sternal body. Only rarely are cases of manubrium fractures described in literature, for example, in relationship with a direct impact to the shoulder which caused an oblique fracture near to the sternoclavicular joint. Three patients with profoundly dislocated oblique manubrium fracture were admitted to our Level I Trauma Center in 2012 and 2013. Those patients suffered from instability of the upper sternum and the shoulder girdle. Between January 2012 and October 2013, a total of 538 trauma patients were admitted to the emergency room and received whole body CT-scan. They were analysed retrospectively for sternal fractures. In cases of instability and dislocation, fracture stabilisation was performed by anterior plating through a medial approach using low profile titanium plates (MatrixRib®). Seventy-nine (14.7 %) patients showed sternal fracture, out of which 13 (2.4 %) patients showed a fracture of manubrium, ten caused by seatbelt. In three cases stabilization was performed. Follow up showed sufficient consolidation without complications. A total of 16.5 % of sternal fractures were localized at the manubrium, mostly caused by seat belt. Fractures without significant dislocation seemed to be stable and healed well under conservative treatment. Dislocation in this region leads to unstable shoulder girdle. Anterior plating provides sufficient stabilisation and allowed consolidation.

Coracoclavicular joint (CCJ) is a rare anomalous joint occasionally found between the coracoid process of scapula and the conoid tubercle of clavicle. The articulation has been extensively studied by means of anatomical, osteological and radiological investigations. Most cases are discovered incidentally, with the symptomatic variety remaining an exceptional rarity. Our aim was to review all reported symptomatic CCJ to increase the level of evidence and formulate a treatment algorithm to aid clinicians in management planning.A thorough literature search was performed, and data from 17 (n = 17) symptomatic cases of CCJ were analysed.CCJ is a rare finding and mostly an incidental discovery, which is rarely symptomatic. However, when symptomatic, the most common symptom is shoulder pain. The mean age at presentation is 42 years, with a male:female ratio of 1.4:1. Brachial plexus involvement was the most common pathophysiological explanation provided. First-line treatment was conservative, with a very low success rate of 5.9%. Surgical intervention in the form of excision of anomalous joint by osteotomy had success rate of 100%.Symptomatic CCJ is rare, and its rarity leads to lack of awareness in the general orthopaedic community. When symptomatic, CCJ may lead to delayed diagnosis or inappropriate management due to lack of evidence and poor description in most orthopaedic textbooks. Despite its low success rate, conservative treatment is advocated before embarking upon surgical intervention.

It is a great challenge to spare the upper limb with a malignant or invasive benign bone tumour of the shoulder girdle. We retrospectively analysed 35 patients with bone tumours of the shoulder girdle treated with various limb salvage procedures. The tumours included 25 primary malignancies, three metastases and seven giant cell tumours which involved the proximal humerus in 21 patients, scapula in 12 and clavicle in two. The reconstruction procedures included eight prosthetic replacements, four devitalised tumorous bone grafts, three osteoarticular allografts, two autogenous fibular grafts, one intramedullary cemented nail, three Tikhoff-Linberg procedures, two replantation of shortened arms, and four humeral head suspensions. Six partial scapulectomies and two lateral clavicectomies needed no bone reconstruction. With an average follow-up of 71 months, local recurrences occurred in four cases and systemic metastases in six. Nine patients died and 23 remained disease free. The five year Kaplan-Meier survival rate of 28 patients with malignancies was 69.5%. The average Musculoskeletal Tumour Society (MSTS) functional score was 77% (range 40–100%) in all patients.

The first to use the term Scapula was Vesalius (1514-1564) and thus it has remained ever since. Probably the oldest injured scapula, from 250 million years ago, was described by Chinese authors of a skeletal examination of a fossilised remains of a dinosaur Yangchuanosaurus hepingensis. In humans, the oldest known scapular fractures date back to the prehistoric and early historic times. In ancient times, a fracture of acromion was described in the treatises of Hippocrates. Early modern history of the treatment of scapular fractures is closely interlinked with the history of the French surgery. The first to point out the existence of these fractures were Petit, Du Verney and Desault in the 18th century. The first study devoted solely to scapular fractures was published by Traugott Karl August Vogt in 1799. Thomas Callaway published in 1849 an extensive dissertation on injuries to the shoulder girdle, in which he discussed a number of cases known at that time. The first radiograph of a scapular fracture was published by Petty in 1907. Mayo Robson (1884), Lambotte (1913) and Lane (1914) were pioneers in the surgical treatment of these fractures, followed in 1923 by the French surgeons Lenormat, Dujarrier and Basset. The first internal fixation of the glenoid fossa, including a radiograph, was published by Fischer in 1939.

Twenty-five patients underwent scapulectomy for various tumours between 1989 and 2005. We describe 23 patients with scapular tumours who were followed-up for a minimum of 2 years after scapulectomy. The average age was 29 years, and two-thirds of the patients were male. Nineteen patients had malignant neoplasms, of which chondrosarcoma was most common, followed by Ewing’s sarcoma. Surgical staging was by Enneking’s system, with stage IIB being the most frequent. Fifteen patients underwent total scapulectomy, and the rest had their glenoid retained. With an average follow-up period of 66.7 months (23–202 months), functional and oncological outcomes were evaluated for all patients. Two patients had superficial wound infections requiring antibiotics, and one had skin necrosis requiring skin cover. Functional outcome was satisfactory in 13 patients. Cosmetically and emotionally acceptable surgery, scapulectomy made 19 patients continuously disease free, while four patients died of disease. The 5-year survival rate of 19 patients with malignant tumours was 75.9%. Retention of the glenohumeral articulation (subtotal) resection gives superior functional results.

Surgical resection of large desmoid-type fibromatosis (DTF) of the shoulder girdle is challenging. This article discusses the operative approach and evaluates the clinic outcome. Twenty-one cases between June 2003 and June 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Eleven patients newly diagnosed and ten had previous operations. Mean tumour size was 10.5 cm (range, 7.0–19.0 cm). We divided the shoulder girdle into four regions; the adopted surgical resection was en bloc in 18 cases and piecemeal resection in three. In nine cases we took an anterior approach, ten a posterior approach and two a combined anteroposterior (AP) approach. Brachytherapy with permanent I125 implantation was applied in all cases. All 21 patients were followed up for a mean of 49.8 (range, 18–136) months. Recurrence was seen in two patients, with the overall recurrence rate of 9.5 %. The Musculoskeletal Tumour Score (MSTS) was between 56.7 and 96.7 %, with the average at 78.9 % and excellent–good rate 95.2 %. Complications were found in three of the 21 patients (14.3 %). Surgical resection with the precondition of preserving vital structure for large DTF of the shoulder girdle is necessary. According to our new partition, it was suitable to take an anterior approach when regions I or I + II were involved, posterior approach for regions II, III or II + III; combined AP approach when involving region I + II + III; and anterior or posterior approach for region IV, depending upon tumour location.

Active shoulder function after segmental tumour resection of the proximal humerus and endoprosthetic reconstruction is regularly compromised, while the overall arm function allows a satisfying use in daily activities. The main functional problem remains the loss of huge parts of the shoulder girdle musculature and its bony attachment. In revision arthroplasty inverse shoulder implants can improve the active range of motion significantly in comparison to anatomical shaped prostheses. The aim of this study was to investigate if these promising experiences are transferable to reconstructions after tumour resection of the proximal humerus by using a modular inverse tumour prosthesis. In this study we observed the functional and oncological results of 18 inverse proximal humerus endoprosthetic replacements (IPHP) with the MUTARS system (Implantcast®) after resection of benign (1x giant cell) and malignant (11x primary bone sarcoma, 5x bone metastasis of carcinoma) bone tumours. Mean age at operation was 42 years. The mean postoperative follow-up was 33 months (range ten to 120). Resection margins were wide in 13 and marginal in five patients. Mean reconstruction length was 15.1 cm (range 6–25 cm). Mean operation time was 191 minutes. The axillary nerve was mostly preserved in 78 % (n = 14). At latest follow-up the patients presented a medium MSTS-score of 24.6/30. The mean active arm abduction in the shoulder joint was 78° and 88° active arm elevation for patients with intact axillary nerve function, but significantly reduced for the four patients with compromised deltoid function. One patient needed a surgical revision due to a deep implant infection. The IPHP offers a significant improvement of active shoulder function in patients in whom the axillary nerve can be preserved in comparison to anatomically-shaped implants. However, for patients without any deltoid function there is no benefit regarding an improved active range of motion using an IPHP.

We treated 15 patients with malignant bone and soft-tissue tumours of the shoulder girdle using limb salvage operations involving resection of the proximal humerus, scapula and clavicle. The oncological and functional outcomes were evaluated in all patients after an average of 5 (1–13) years. Oncological evaluation revealed that in 11 patients with adequate surgical margins six were continuously disease free and two had no evidence of disease. Three patients with marginal surgical margins had all died. We suggest that only where adequate surgical margins can be obtained should operations be performed. Forequarter amputation is still indicated in patients with complicated neurovascular involvement. Functional evaluation showed that scapular resections, especially glenoid resections, provided poor results (mean score 54%) in comparison with patients without such resection (mean score 82%).