Fractures of the Scapula: Current Management Concepts

Fractures of the scapula are usually associated with high-energy trauma and its management has deeply changed in the last decade. The unfavorable scapular anatomy, combined with the complexity of the approaches for fracture fixation, make the treatment challenging, even for experienced surgeons. Furthermore, the literature is controversial regarding surgical indications and rationale for treatment.

This book is designed to address and discuss critical aspects of decision making for the management of scapular fractures, including anatomy, epidemiology, surgical indications, rehabilitation, treatment, and outcomes. It also presents several challenging cases with adequate preoperative planning, emphasizing the different approaches, fixation strategies, soft tissue handling, and postoperative care. Floating shoulder and the association between scapular fractures and clavicle fractures are also addressed, as well as a hot topic and emerging issue: the periprosthetic scapular fracture following reverse shoulder arthroplasty. The approaches and fixation strategies will be the main points of the book and richly illustrated by images.

Fractures of the Scapula – Current Concepts is an indispensable reference to shoulder surgeons, general orthopaedic surgeons, orthopaedic trauma surgeons, thoracic surgeons, orthopaedic fellows and residents, medical students, and physical therapists who are eager to deepen their knowledge in the management of the challenging scapular fractures.

*the Editors modified the proposal based on the reviewer’s feedback.

Robinson Pires, MD is a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil. He serves as the Chief of the Orthopaedic Trauma Service at Felício Rocho Hospital and Orizonti Institute. With a Master’s Degree from the Federal University of São Paulo, Dr. Pires pursued his PhD and Post-Doctoral Research at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. He completed a Fellowship in Orthopaedic Trauma at the Federal University of São Paulo and served as visiting Fellow at the University of Colorado (Denver Health Medical Center), University of California San Francisco (Orthopaedic Trauma Institute), and UC Davis (Sacramento, CA, USA). Dr. Pires is also an international AO Trauma Faculty and actively contributes to the Research Support Group of AO Trauma Latin America, while serving as a Board Member of AO Trauma Brazil. He is currently a member of the AO Trauma Lower Extremity Education Task Force.

Previously, he held the position of President of the Brazilian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (Minas Gerais State) and has been elected as President of the Brazilian Society of Orthopaedic Trauma for the year 2025. With a prolific academic career, Dr. Pires has authored several papers published in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to a substantial number of book chapters in the field of orthopaedic trauma.

Pedro José Labronici, MD holds a Master's degree in Medicine (Orthopedics and Traumatology) from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), a PhD in Orthopedics and Traumatology from the Federal University of São Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine (UNIFESP), and did his post-doctorate at the Fluminense Federal University (UFF). Dr. Labronici is currently Head of the Orthopedics and Traumatology Department at Santa Teresa Hospital. Dr. Labronici is an AO Trauma Faculty, a member of the Shoulder and Elbow Task Force of the AO International Trauma Group, and a board member of the Brazilian Orthopaedic Trauma Society. Dr. Labronici is a Full Professor at the Petrópolis School of Medicine. He is also an Associate Professor at the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) and an Associate Professor at the Universidade Católica de Petrópolis. He also teaches in the postgraduate program at the Universidade Federal Fluminense. 

Vincenzo Giordano, MD is an orthopaedic trauma surgeon and consultant at the Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Prof. Nova Monteiro - Miguel Couto Municipal Hospital, since 1994. He has a master’s degree and PhD from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a post-doctorate from the Federal Fluminense University. He did a clinical fellow in orthopaedic trauma in 1999 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and visiting fellows at the Klinik für Unfallchirurgie of the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover in 2002 and at the Klinik für Traumatologie of the Universitätsspital Zürich in 2005.

Dr. Giordano is currently the Research Officer for the AO Trauma Latin America and an International AO Trauma Faculty. He is fellow of the Brazilian College of Surgeons and responsible for the Orthopaedic Chapter . He is fellow of the Brazilian Academy of Military Medicine and responsible for the Surgical Clinics Section. He is past chair of the AO Trauma Brazil, the Brazilian Society of Orthopaedic Trauma, and the Brazilian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (Rio de Janeiro State). Dr. Giordano has several publications and book chapters in the area of orthopaedic trauma, many related to scapula fractures in partnership with the other authors of this book (RES and PJL).