Functional categorization of the individual morphology of the scapula

Abstract

The morphologic variations of the shoulder blade have not yet been evaluated in clinical medicine. We observed that subjects with less standard shapes of the shoulder blade often suffer from musculo-skeletal shoulder syndromes with concurrent intrinsic impingement syndromes or, more precisely, partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. This experience became a basis for an experiment, in which we categorized individual phenotypes of the shoulder blade. A clinically useful finding of the presented study is a tool for predicting patients at risk for manifestations of impingement syndrome and also for prediction of easy or complicated restoration of neuromuscular stabilization of the shoulder. Lower functional potential of the external rotator muscles of the shoulder is in close relation to the individual shape of the shoulder blade, for the most part with the cranio-caudal dimension of the infraspinous fossa.