2 Cases of Anterior Glenoid Rim Fracture of Scapula Requiring Operative Treatment

Abstract

Fractures of the traumatic anterior glenoid rim of the scapula are relatively rare. We surgically treated two patients with fresh anterior glenoid rim fracture of the scapula with instability. According to Ideberg's classification system, the two cases were type I b. The bone fragment size was evaluated by computed tomography. The fracture of case 1 involved 38%, and that of case 2 involved 53.3% of the anterior glenoid rim, with shoulder instability. Open reduction and internal fixation were performed with screw for the two cases by the deltopectoral approach. There were no recurrent instability of the shoulder after operation. The results were almost satisfactory except for the limitation of shoulder ROM in case 2.
Anterior glenoid rim fracture of the scapula associated with shoulder instability is an indication for open reduction and internal fixation. It seems that the relative ratio of the fragment in respect to the anterior glenoid rim is helpful for treating this type of fracture.