From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Snapping scapula syndrome

Field	Value
name	Snapping scapula syndrome
specialty	orthopedic
symptoms	Grating, grinding, popping or snapping sensation of the scapula onto the back side of the ribs or thoracic area of the spine" (Hauser)
causes	Common cases involve patients excessively using the overhead or throwing motion.
treatment	Non-surgical: physical therapy; anti-inflammatory medications; extreme cases include cortisone injection. Surgery may be used.

Snapping scapula syndrome, also known as scapulocostal syndrome or scapulothoracic syndrome, is described by a "grating, grinding, popping or snapping sensation of the scapula onto the back side of the ribs or thoracic area of the spine" (Hauser). Disruption of the normal scapulothoracic mechanics causes this problem. The most common cases are found in young, active patients who tend to excessively use the overhead or throwing motion.

Cause

One source of snapping scapula is when the muscles underneath the scapula (the subscapularis muscle) atrophies. This causes the scapula to become very close to the rib cage, eventually causing rubbing or bumping during arm/shoulder movement. Another cause is bursitis, which is when the tissues between the shoulder blade and thoracic wall inflame. Muscle and bone abnormalities in the shoulder area can also contribute to the pain.

Treatment

Non-surgical

Doctors often recommend physical therapy in order to strengthen the subscapularis muscle, and prescribe anti-inflammatory medications. For extreme cases, cortisone injections would be used.

Surgical

Surgery is usually only used if the non-surgical treatments have failed. Bone abnormalities may need surgical attention. The most common surgery for snapping scapula requires the surgeon to "take out a small piece of the upper corner of the scapula nearest to the spine."

References

Hauser, Ross. "Snapping Scapula Syndrome.". Prolotherapy Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 December 2011.
Kuhne, M, N Boniquit, N Ghodadra, AA Romeo, and MT Provcher. "The snapping scapula: diagnosis and treatment." PubMed. National Center for Biotechnology Information, 25 November 2009. Web. 5 December 2011.

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

skeletal-disorders syndromes

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Snapping scapula syndrome — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report