WINGED SCAPULA: CASE OCCURRING IN SOLDIER FROM KNAPSACK

10 October 1942

journal article
research article
Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in JAMA

Vol. 120 (6) , 448-449
https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1942.82830410004008a

Abstract

Prominence or "winging" of the scapula was described in 1825 by Velpeau, who attributed this deformity to paralysis of the serratus anterior muscle.¹Since that time cases of this type have been reported due to poliomyelitis, birth palsy, postinfluenzal neuritis, diphtheria, erysipelas, cerebral palsy and progressive muscular dystrophy.²Ball³has reported a case of paralysis of the serratus anterior in a midshipman following an injection of antitetanic serum, and McGoogan⁴reported 3 cases occurring during the puerperium. Such trauma as the following may cause the same deformity: swinging at a punching bag and missing, being kicked by a horse, pulling energetically on a hand clutch, golfing, using crutches, pressure from a cast, the postural habit of sleeping on the outstretched arm,⁵following an abdominal operation,⁶carrying weights on the shoulder and a direct fall.¹Search of the literature on this subject fails to

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