The shoulder blade (scapula) is a triangular-shaped bone that is protected by a complex system of surrounding muscles. Scapula fractures represent less than 1% of all broken bones and many of them can be treated without surgery.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Injuries to the SC joint typically result from motor vehicle collisions or participation in collision sports like football. While these injuries can be painful, most are relatively minor and will heal well without surgery.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Shoulder fractures most often involve the clavicle (collarbone), proximal humerus (top of the upper arm bone), or the scapula (shoulder blade). Shoulder dislocations can involve any of the three different joints that make up the shoulder.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
In a shoulder dislocation, the head of the upper arm bone (humerus) may come either partially or completely out of the socket. To treat a dislocation, your doctor will place the ball of your upper arm bone back into the shoulder socket, a procedure called a "reduction."| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Your arm is kept in your shoulder socket by your rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that come together as tendons to form a covering around the shoulder. When one of these tendons is torn, it may be painful to lift or rotate your arm.| orthoinfo.aaos.org