United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Does your child's scapula ever seem to move upward, where at times you can almost see it pushing upward. Sometimes I can actually see the bump when looking at the front of my child. The whole scapula not only wings outward but seems to slide or shift upward significantly. If you look at my child from the back you can see the shape of the scapula bone and that the non-injured and injured side don't line up, especially when certain motions are made. I don't think this is related to any type of dislocation based on info. we have, but I am really concerned and confused about what is causing this. Does your child have this? What causes it? Did it get worse or better after surgery? Is it common because I haven't heard much about this upward movement. It is not from scrunching the shoulder up. The actual scapula just juts upward. Any thoughts or help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!

I have heard of this. I have heard it from parents of kids who have had caps and some who have not had dislocation issues. It is related to a weakness in the muscles surrounding the scapula. Most parents who asked about it were told not to worry.

To be certain, you should contact your bpi professional and ask. Maybe it is time for a quick video.

hope it helps,
claudia

My son's shoulder is dislocated, and looks very sloped, almost like no shoulder at all. The scapula is very weak and wings out. However, when we were showed what Matthew's shoulder would look like if the humerus were postioned in the glenoid properly, the scapula rode very high up above the top of the shoulder, and also stayed winged-out. Just as you are describing. My understanding is that if the shoulder is in the correct position(not dislocated or subluxed) and there is significant winging due to weakness in the scapula, this position could happen.
Hope this is clear!

Cathy

hi
You arew describing my son's shoulder,well back, winging, I think it is normal erb's physique...
interestingly, my 11 year old (not erb's not even at all) wings also, with both, both children have exceedingly strong muscles, particularly in their arms as they are avid tree climbers, obviously the younger erbs child has muscle weakness but the 11 year old, I cannot believe his winging is due to any muscle wea\kness, maybe tendons?

Thomas' shoulder is doing the same..
He had mod-quad last year and has gotten great results he had no shoulder movement. He is starting to wing but I have learned that his arm is getting tight under his shoulder again. His shoulder blade moves as a unit with his arm it moves under his arm pit? hope you can understand what I am talking about. I have been streaching his arm, but I have just learned to hold to his shoulder blade under his arm with one hand and raise his arm up with the other to get a good streach.