Abstract
A fall onto the shoulder is a common mechanism of injury in cyclists. However, coracoid fractures remain unreported in the literature in this population. These authors report a case of a coracoid fracture missed on the initial plain film radiographs. Whilst these fractures can be easily missed on standard trauma series radiographs of the shoulder, alternate views and other imaging modalities can be used to detect these fractures. Clinical suspicion, judicious imaging and accurate diagnosis of these fractures are important, as stability of the coracoid influences the entire superior shoulder suspensory complex which allows normal function of the shoulder joint.
Highlights
A healthy 48-year-old male elite triathlete injured his right shoulder during a descent while mountain-biking
The coracoid process is a key connection between the scapula and the clavicle and an important anchor in the coracoacromial arch; it is part of the superior shoulder suspensory complex (SSSC) as proposed by Goss et al
[2] The SSSC is a ring formed by the glenoid process, the coracoid process, the coracoclavicular ligaments, the distal clavicle, the acromioclavicular joint and the acromial process (Figure 1C)
Summary
E Duinslaeger, 1,3,4 MD; J H Kirby, 1,2,3 MBChB, MSc (Sports Med); J T Viljoen, 1,2,3 BSc (Physio), MPhil (Exercise Sci); P L Viviers, 1,2,3 MBChB, MMedSc, MSc (Sports Med), FACSM. A fall onto the shoulder is a common mechanism of injury in cyclists. Coracoid fractures remain unreported in the literature in this population. These authors report a case of a coracoid fracture missed on the initial plain film radiographs. Whilst these fractures can be missed on standard trauma series radiographs of the shoulder, alternate views and other imaging modalities can be used to detect these fractures. Judicious imaging and accurate diagnosis of these fractures are important, as stability of the coracoid influences the entire superior shoulder suspensory complex which allows normal function of the shoulder joint Keywords: cycling, trauma, sport, injury, shoulder injury
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