Growth plate injury at the base of the coracoid: MRI features

History of diagnostics and treatment of scapular fractures in children and adolescents and its clinical importance

Almost 70 scapular fractures in children and adolescents, up to the age of 17 years, have been described in detail in the literature since 1839. The diagnosis of these injuries was based on autopsy, radiographs, CT and MRI examinations. The most frequent findings were fractures/epiphyseolyses of the coracoid, followed by fractures of the infraspinous part of the body and avulsion of the inferior angle of the scapular body. Less common were fractures of the acromion. Intra-articular fractures of the glenoid, or separation of an intact glenoid along the line of the anatomical or surgical necks, were reported only sporadically. Scapulothoracic dissociation was also recorded in several cases. The majority of fractures were treated non-operatively; operative treatment was used in glenoid fractures, certain fractures of the coracoid and fractures of the scapular body with intrathoracic penetration. Except for scapulothoracic dissociation, outcomes of treatment of these injuries were very good.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Scapular Fractures in Children and Adolescents: A Critical Analysis Review

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Fractures of the growing scapula account for about 0.1% of all pediatric fractures, with the majority occurring at an age of ≥10 years.

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Radiographic diagnosis requires a detailed knowledge of the ossification sequence of the growing scapula. Computed tomography examination is indicated for displaced fractures of the glenoid fossa, the scapular neck, and complex fractures; magnetic resonance imaging should be performed in cases of suspected injury to the physis and with stress fractures, depending on patient age and the potential need for general anesthesia during the scanning process.

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Separation of the base of the coracoid process is often associated with acromioclavicular dislocation. Clavicular fractures rarely occur in combination with injuries to the growing scapula.

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The majority of scapular fractures can be treated nonoperatively. Indications for surgery are displaced intra-articular fractures, scapular neck fractures with a displacement of >2 cm, coracoid base separation associated with acromioclavicular dislocation, and scapulothoracic dissociation.

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Displaced intra-articular fractures of the glenoid fossa should be followed after healing until skeletal maturity. Complications are rare and occur most frequently with scapulothoracic dissociation.

Presumed Glenoid SLAP Tear in an Adolescent Football Player Belied the Presence of a Coracoid Growth Plate Fracture: A Diagnostic Conundrum

We report the case of a 13-year-old male who sustained a right shoulder injury while playing quarterback in an American football game. A noncontrast MRI scan showed evidence of a possible grade 1 SLAP tear (SLAP = superior labral anterior-posterior), and surgery was recommended. However, at the preoperative visit, the surgeon was suspicious that the main source of pain had been missed. Bilateral shoulder radiographs taken for comparative analysis revealed a Salter-Harris type I coracoid growth-plate fracture. Therefore, the surgeon planned to manage the patient nonoperatively and postponed the proposed SLAP tear surgery. The patient was instructed to cease participation in athletic events and undergo physical therapy. Hoping to expedite his healing with platelet or stem cell injections, the parents sought an opinion from another physician who obtained a right shoulder MRI with intra-articular contrast. This confirmed that there was no SLAP tear. We concluded that the patient initially had glenohumeral and coracoclavicular ligament strains and a coracoid growth-plate fracture. The SLAP tear suggested by the initial MRI proved to be a red herring, belying an accurate diagnosis. The patient ultimately recovered fully with physical therapy and without surgery or other interventions.

Nonunion of the coracoid process: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Although the coracoid process seems to play an important anatomical role, there are few reports concerning fracture nonunion of the coracoid process (CN) and its disorders. Therefore, there is no widely accepted standard for the treatment of CN.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed and Scopus were searched using "scapular fracture" and "coracoid fracture" as search terms. The inclusion criteria were English full-text articles concerning coracoid fracture, and articles that described patient characteristics and presented appropriate images. The exclusion criteria were descriptive cases, and cases without appropriate images. Citation tracking was conducted to find additional articles and notable full-text articles written in other languages. Fractures were classified using Ogawa's functional classification, with Eyres' anatomical classification used as a supplement when necessary.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients (26 men, 3 women) with 30 CN were identified. Nine CN had a predisposing factor such as seizure disorder and renal osteodystrophy. The fracture types were 12 Ogawa type I and 18 type II. Concurrent shoulder girdle injuries at the time of initial trauma/accident were varied. There were six cases of double disruption and two of triple disruption of the superior shoulder suspensory complex (SSSC), all of which had Ogawa type I fracture. Only six CN were isolated. The most frequent cause of CN was oversight by the previous physician (n = 11), followed by conservative treatment (n = 7). Although 12 patients with 13 CN had symptoms attributable to CN, most of these symptoms were insignificant. Although the acromioclavicular dislocation or CN persisted in eight patients, these residual abnormalities did not significantly affect the outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians treating CN should recognize that CN itself is frequently asymptomatic, and a satisfactory outcome is achieved solely by treating the concurrent injuries, even if CN remains. When CN is suspected to produce symptoms, the physician must then determine the mechanism by which the symptoms are produced, and select a treatment strategy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

V.

Fractures of the coracoid process: a systematic review

Background

Although fracture of the coracoid process (CF) used to be considered rare, it is now more commonly encountered due to increased awareness and advances in imaging methods. This review aimed to analyze reported cases of CF to determine its mechanism and appropriate treatment.

Methods

PubMed and Scopus were searched using the terms "scapula fracture" and "coracoid fracture." The inclusion criteria were English full-text articles concerning CF that described patient characteristics with appropriate images. The exclusion criteria included cases without appropriate images and those with physeal injury or nonunion. Citation tracking was conducted to find additional articles and notable full-text articles in other languages. Fractures were mainly classified using Ogawa's classification.

Results

Ninety-seven studies were identified, including 197 patients (131 men, 33 women; average age 37.0±16.9 years). CF was classified as type I in 77%, type II in 19%, and avulsion fracture at the angle in 5%. Concurrent shoulder girdle injuries included acromioclavicular injury in 33%, clavicular fracture in 17%, acromion or lateral scapular spine fracture in 15%, and anterior shoulder instability in 11%. Among patients with type I CF, 69% had multiple disruptions of the superior shoulder suspensory complex. Conservative treatment was applied in 71% of isolated type I CF, while surgical treatment was applied in 76% of type I CF with multiple disruptions. Although the evaluation methods varied, 60% of patients were followed up for more than 6 months, and the outcomes were generally satisfactory for both conservative and surgical treatments.

Conclusion

CF occurred commonly in the age group with higher social activity. The most common fracture type was type I. The possible mechanism of CF is violent traction of the attached muscles, except for avulsion fracture at the angle. Type I CF with multiple disruptions of the superior shoulder suspensory complex requires surgical treatment, whereas conservative care is recommended for isolated type I and type II CFs.

Physeal Injuries of the Coracoid Process Are Closely Associated With Sports Activities: A Systematic Review

Background:

Physeal injuries of the coracoid process are rare but may be increasing because of increased participation of youth in year-round sports.

Purpose:

To analyze reported physeal and apophyseal injuries of the coracoid process.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

PubMed and Scopus were searched using the terms scapula fracture and coracoid fracture. The inclusion criteria were English full-text articles describing coracoid fracture as well as articles that described patient characteristics and presented appropriate images. The exclusion criteria were descriptive cases without images as well as those lacking appropriate images. Citation tracking was conducted to find additional articles and full-text articles written in other languages. Articles were included if they reported physeal injury or judged to involve physeal injury based on the provided images.

Results:

Overall, 22 studies including 32 patients (29 males, 3 females) were identified. All but 2 patients were younger than 18 years of age, and 66% (21/32) had sustained injuries during or as a result of participation in sporting activities. The affected site was the physis at the base in 18 patients, an intra-articular fracture in the primary coracoid ossification center combined with the subcoracoid ossification center to form an intra-articular fracture in 5, the apophysis of the tip in 3, the apophysis of the angle in 5, and uncertain in 1. Eleven patients had concurrent acromioclavicular injuries. The injury was acute in 23 patients, chronic in 6, and traumatic nonunion in 3. Among 21 cases in which treatment methods and outcomes were described, 21% of the acute cases (4/19), and 2 of the 3 nonunions were surgically treated. Only 1 study used a widely accepted evaluation method. Follow-up periods ranged from 6 weeks to 2 years. Outcomes were generally excellent for nonoperative and operative treatment and without any serious complications.

Conclusion:

Coracoid physeal injuries occurred most commonly in patients aged 13 to 15 years of age (71%) and were usually sustained during or as a result of sports activities (66%). The most common injury site was the physis at its base. The cause of these injuries is probably severe or repeated traction of the attached muscles and ligaments. The majority of these injuries can be successfully treated nonoperatively.

Normal development imaging pitfalls and injuries in the pediatric shoulder

The skeletal maturation of the shoulder has been well documented on radiographic and cadaveric studies. Recent increased use of MRI has provided increased understanding of the soft-tissue and osseous changes that occur during development. Thus recognizing normal maturation, imaging manifestations and pitfalls is crucial when evaluating the pediatric shoulder joint. At birth, the humeral diaphysis, midportion of the clavicle, and the body of the scapula are ossified, while the remainder of the bones of the shoulder are composed of non-ossified cartilaginous precursors. During growth, cartilaginous apophyses and epiphyses of the shoulder develop numerous secondary ossification centers, which fuse with the primary ossification centers to form the complete bony components of the shoulder. Additionally changes in the morphology of the growth plates as well as marrow signal occur in an organized manner. This paper affords the reader with an understanding of the normal development of three major components of skeletal maturation in the shoulder: ossification centers, growth plates and marrow signal. These topics are further subdivided into the glenoid, proximal humerus and acromioclavicular joint. We also provide a focus on distinguishing normal anatomy from imaging pitfalls related to skeletal maturation.

Pitfalls in Pediatric Trauma and Microtrauma

Fractures are common in children, although accurate diagnosis is confounded by mimics of fractures some of which are unique to the pediatric population. Such fracture mimics include developmental variations of the growth plates, normal anatomic structures that simulate fracture lines, and/or metabolic disorders that alter the pattern of ossification. Although subtle clues on plain radiographs may help to discriminate between a true fracture or injury and a fracture mimic, MR imaging may be helpful to eliminate uncertainty or expedite diagnosis.

Coracoid process fractures: anatomy, injury patterns, multimodality imaging, and approach to management

The coracoid process of the scapula is in close proximity to major neurovascular structures, including the brachial plexus and the axillary artery and vein. In addition, it serves as a major site of attachment for multiple tendons and ligaments about the shoulder. Isolated coracoid fractures are rare; however, they can be easily overlooked on routine shoulder radiographs. Importantly, when these fractures go undiagnosed, they are at high risk for nonunion. In this paper, we will review the relevant anatomy of the coracoid process, classification schemes for coracoid fractures, mechanisms of injury how these fractures typically present, multimodality imaging findings, and associated injuries. Finally, we will briefly discuss the clinical management of these fractures.

Salter-Harris Type 1 coracoid process fracture in a rugby playing adolescent

Fractures of the coracoid process are uncommon and when they do occur, are often mistaken for injuries to the acromi oclavicular joint. We report a case of a 15-year-old boy who sustained a Salter-Harris Type 1 fracture through his coracoid process alongside strain of the acromioclavicular and coracoclavicular ligaments. Additional imaging, specifically MRI, was critical in both correctly identifying this injury as a coracoid process fracture and also in determining that conservative management was the best course of action. Optimum management of such injuries remains controversial, specifically with regards to skeletally immature patients. In our case, the injury was identified clearly on MRI and managed conservatively, with the patient making a full recovery and a return to contact rugby after 3 months.