Scapular stabilization in patients with spinal cord injury.

AbstractBackground: Severe scapular instability can be a considerable problem for people with high-level cervical spinal cord injury. Scapular instability reduces the effectiveness of the already weakened shoulder flexors and abductors, thereby limiting hand-to-mouth and hand-to-head activities. The winged scapula may cause inferior pole skin breakdown, as well as neck and shoulder pain.Objective: To report the efficacy of a fusionless scapular stabilization procedure as a means to enhance function in a consecutive group of patients with high-level cervical spinal cord injury.Methods: Four people with spinal cord injury at C4-C5 (2 male, 2 female; mean age = 17.3 years, range = 14-20 years) underwent scapular stabilization via scapulothoracic fusion (N = 2) or by tethering the scapula to the rib cage with Mersilene tape as a fusionless stabilization (N = 2). One patient died of unrelated causes 18 months after surgery, and the remaining 3 were followed for 26, 39, and 41 months, respectively. Data collect...