Muscle separation approach to scapular neck fractures in eight dogs.

OBJECTIVES To report on a new surgical approach to scapular neck fractures. METHODS A combined prospective and retrospective study of eight dogs that had sustained a fracture of the scapular neck between 1992 and 2005 was performed. All eight dogs had an internal fixation using a T plate through a muscle separation approach. Retraction of the supraspinatus from the deltoideus and infraspinatus allows an adequate surgical window to enable plating of the scapular neck. RESULTS Sixty-two percent had an excellent outcome without any lameness or stiffness detected. The remaining cases experienced infrequent bouts of stiffness, or, in one case lameness. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The current literature recommends that the surgical approach to the scapular neck is by osteotomy of the acromion process, which is unnecessary in the authors' opinion as it increases surgical trauma, operating time and the number of implants required.