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Fractures of the coracoid process – pathoanatomy and classification: based on thirty nine cases with three dimensional computerised tomography reconstructions

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Abstract

Purpose

Until now, classifications of coracoid fractures have been based on plain radiographs, without use of 3D CT reconstructions. Therefore, the aim of the present study has been to describe the pathoanatomy of these fractures and their associated injuries to the shoulder girdle, on the basis of 3D CT reconstructions.

Methods

The cohort comprised 39 patients, who each sustained a coracoid fracture investigated with 3D CT reconstructions. The patients were assessed in terms of age, gender, pathoanatomy of the coracoid fracture, fractures of other parts of the scapula, and associated injuries to the shoulder girdle.

Results

We identified 24 fractures of the base, one fracture of the beak body, eight fractures of the apex, and six comminuted fractures of the coracoid process. A total of 22 associated injuries were found (7 fractures of the acromion, 5 fractures of the anterior glenoid rim, 3 fractures of the superior glenoid, 1 fracture of the inferior glenoid, 4 fractures of the surgical neck, 2 fractures of the scapular body) and 18 other associated injuries to the shoulder girdle (8 AC dislocations, 5 proximal humeral fractures, and 5 clavicular fractures).

Conclusion

On the basis of 3D CT reconstructions, four basic coracoid fracture patterns were identified. The authors´ findings and literature review have shown that a considerable number of coracoid fractures are combined with injuries to other parts of scapula and shoulder girdle. These associated injuries must be taken into account and targeted when taking the patient’s history, and during clinical and primarily radiological examinations.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Prof. Chris Colton MB BS FRCS and Ludmila Bébarová PhD for their assistance in the editing of the manuscript.

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Funding

Supported by IP DZRVO MO1012.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Military University Hospital Prague, U Vojenské nemocnice 1200, 169 02, Prague 6, Czech Republic

    Jan Bartoníček, Michal Tuček & Tomáš Strnad

  2. Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    Jan Bartoníček & Ondřej Naňka

Authors
  1. Jan Bartoníček
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  2. Michal Tuček
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  3. Tomáš Strnad
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  4. Ondřej Naňka
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Correspondence to Jan Bartoníček.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants, or animals, performed by any of the authors.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in our scapular research.

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Bartoníček, J., Tuček, M., Strnad, T. et al. Fractures of the coracoid process – pathoanatomy and classification: based on thirty nine cases with three dimensional computerised tomography reconstructions. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 45, 1009–1015 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-020-04634-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-020-04634-6

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