An unusual case of scapula winging

Subscapular Osteochondroma as a Differential Diagnosis of Winged Scapula

Objective  This study aims to report the clinical features of pediatric patients diagnosed with subscapular osteochondroma submitted to surgical treatment at Hospital Infantil Joana de Gusmão (HIJG), in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, between 2003 and 2017.

Methods  Analytical, descriptive and retrospective case series of seven patients with subscapular osteochondroma diagnosis.

Results  The average age of the analyzed patients was 9.5 years-old; 71% of the patients were male. The mean time between onset of symptoms and the surgical procedure was 1.2 years. Approximately 71% of the patients presented osteochondroma in the right scapula, and 57.1% of the lesions were classified as sessile. At the clinical examination, winged scapula was observed in 85.7%, crepitus in 71.4%, and 42.9% of the patients complained about pain.

Conclusion  The winged scapula can have different etiologies, including subscapular osteochondroma. The knowledge about functional anatomy and orthopedic semiology added to the correct systematization approach to bone tumors is the basis for the correct differential diagnosis and adequate treatment.