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June 19, 2013
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Broken Shoulder Blade (cont.)

Medical Author:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Medical Editor:
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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Broken Shoulder Blade Medical Treatment

The goal of treatment is to maintain function of the shoulder. Most fractures of the body of the scapula are treated without surgery.

  • Ice is used for swelling, and pain medications are used for pain control.
  • The shoulder is immobilized in a shoulder sling for 3-4 weeks until the pain goes away.
  • Pain management is likely to be required; nonsteroidal inti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, hydrocodone, and morphine are common medications used to reduce pain while the fracture heals. The medication schedule should be determined by the patient's overall condition and associated injuries. The prescribing doctor should take into account the length of time medications can begin to be tapered off; follow-up appointments are useful to help determine this medication schedule.

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Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Fractures, Scapular »

The primary function of the scapula is to attach the upper extremity to the thorax and provide a stabilized platform for upper extremity movement.

Read More on Medscape Reference »


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