Scapulothoracic Bursitis or the Snapping Scapula Syndrome May Mimic with Shoulder Pain

Abstract

Background: The scapulothorasic joint plays an important role in overall shoulder function by providing a stable base for glenohumeral rotation. Snapping scapula syndrome, a likely under diagnosed condition, can produce significant shoulder dysfunction in many patients. Because the precise origin is difficult to understand, sometimes mimic with shoulder pain. Dysfunctioning of any of muscles, ligament, bursa may cause abnormal scapular motion and predispose to scapulothoracic joint disorders. Accurate recognition of the syndrome may lead to prompt and long-term relief of symptoms by conservative or noninvesiveintervension treatment.Results:The causes of scapulothoracic bursitis and crepitus include direct or indirect trauma, overuse syndromes, glenohumeral joint dysfunction, boney abnormalities, muscle microtrauma or atrophy or fibrosis, and idiopathic causes. Scapulothoracic bursitis and crepitus remain primarily clinical diagnoses. However, imaging studies or local injections may also be helpful. The initial treatment of scapulothoracic bursitis and scapulothoracic crepitus should be conservative. Intevension procedure is best for treating modalitis for scapulothoracic dysfunction, most reports have demonstrated well to excellent outcomes in a significantly high percentage of patients.Conclusions:Clearly, the best initial approach to these conditions is a conservative treatment like nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs plan that combines scapular strengthening, postural reeducation, and core strength endurance. If an appropriate trial of nonoperative management proves unsuccessful, local non invesiveintervension can produce good results.