Prognosis for nonsurgical fracture management

The post-mortem evaluation of the chronic fracture shown above revealed a smaller articular fragment (white arrow) and a separate tubercle fragment (red arrow) associated with osteitis.

Note: in this specimen the potential fibrous union between the fragments was destroyed during the preparation process.

The image shows the abaxial detail view of the fracture region (left). The axial view (right) showing the entire scapula with the two fragments.

A return to an athletic career with nonsurgical management is very unlikely to occur; the lack of osseous union and the articular damage prevent this from occurring.

The image shows trauma to the suprascapular nerve, leading to a certain degree of atrophy of the supra- and infraspinatus muscles. This is usually associated with a certain degree of gait deficit.

Development of a certain degree of degenerative joint disease in conjunction with a mechanical gait deficit caused by the cranial displacement of the supraglenoid tubercle has to be expected.

If the fragment unites with the parent portion of the bone in a cranially tilted position, the animal will show shortened cranial stride pattern resulting in a mechanical lameness.