A Scapular Body Fracture Following a Fielding Injury in Cricket: A Case Report

A 30-year-old male presented with left shoulder pain after fielding a ball during a cricket match. He fell onto his left shoulder with his arm stretched out. Afterwards, he experienced pain and difficulty lifting his arm above shoulder level. His history is notable for a similar incident in 2018, which resolved with therapy. Examination revealed focal tenderness over the greater tuberosity and glenohumeral joint, pain with forward flexion, abduction, and extension, mild weakness in abduction and external rotation, and a positive O’Brien’s test. Initial radiographs lacked clear evidence of an acute fracture. However, given the focal tenderness and mechanism of injury, an underlying scapular fracture was suspected. A subsequent CT scan confirmed a closed, non-displaced fracture of the scapular body. The patient was advised to avoid overhead activities and use a sling for one week, with NSAIDs for pain management. At two-week follow-up, pain had improved, although discomfort persisted with certain movements. Four weeks post-injury, controlled rehabilitation was initiated, focusing on restoration of shoulder mobility. At two months, X-rays demonstrated routine healing, and the patient was cleared to resume upper-body strengthening. By the final follow-up, he completed physical therapy, resumed cricket competition, and reported resolution of symptoms without functional limitation.

Scapular fractures are rare (< 1% of all fractures)- usually caused by trauma, such as direct blows or falls.1 In cricket, shoulder girdle injuries are often related to bowling or fielding, but direct impact can also cause scapular body fractures.2 These injuries may initially be overlooked on X-ray due to overlying structures and subtle cortical changes. Advanced imaging is important when clinical suspicion is high. In this case, while the initial X-rays showed only a possible irregularity along the lateral scapular border, the combination of localized tenderness and mechanism of injury prompted CT evaluation, which confirmed a non-displaced fracture.