Iatrogenic Winging Scapula: A Case Report

Winging scapula (WS), is a condition of scapula’s medial edge or inferior border which is displaced away from the rib cage. One of the WS causes is the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) injuries which are rare and mostly iatrogenic. It is susceptiple to iatrogenic injury as its course is superficial and close to the posterior lymph node chain and the posterior cervical triangle is covered only by skin and investing fascia of neck. Injury to the SAN can lead to dysfunction of the trapezius muscle. Trapezius is one of the major stabilizer muscles of the scapula. WS is diagnosed clinically. However, further diagnostic evaluations should be performed to determine the underlying etiologies. Electrodiagnostic studies are important to determine the neuromusculer causes. Herein, a patient with iatrogenic SAN palsy is presented. Turk J Phys Med Rehab 2011;57 Suppl 2: 348-50.