Scapula winging: clinical features

Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .

Scapula winging: clinical features. This is usually caused by damage to the nerve in the posterior cervical triangle. Fully referenced neurology checklist.

Spinal accessory nerve winging

  • This is usually caused by damage to the nerve in the posterior cervical triangle
  • It is iatrogenic in many cases
  • It usually results from cervical lymph node biopsy or excision
  • It results in trapezius muscle weakness
  • It manifests as lateral winging
  • The whole medial border of the scapula is elevated
  • Winging is accentuated by shoulder abduction to 90°

Long thoracic nerve winging

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Dorsal scapular nerve winging

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Thoracodorsal nerve winging

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Differential diagnosis (mimics) of scapula winging

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References

  1. Kuhn JE, Plancher KD, Hawkins RJ. Scapular winging. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 1995; 3:319-325.
  2. Meininger AK, Figuerres BF, Goldberg BA. Scapular winging: an update. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2011; 19:453-462.
  3. Martin RM, Fish DE. Scapular winging: anatomical review, diagnosis, and treatments. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 2008; 1:1-11.
  4. Amato AA, Russell JA. Neuromuscular Disorders. McGraw Hill New York 2008 pp397-398.
  5. Seror P, Lenglet T, Nguyen C, Ouaknine M, Lefevre-Colau MM. Unilateral winged scapula: Clinical and electrodiagnostic experience with 128 cases, with special attention to long thoracic nerve palsy. Muscle Nerve 2018; 57:913-920. 
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