Search Results (3)

Background: Sprengel’s deformity is the most common congenital anomaly of the scapula and is frequently associated with the presence of omovertebral bars and cervical spine anomalies such as Klippel–Feil syndrome. Multiple surgical techniques have been described aiming to correct Sprengel’s deformities, with the Modified Woodward procedure being among the most widely utilized techniques. Bilateral Sprengel’s deformities are relatively rare; when present, surgical correction is usually performed in a staged manner. Case presentation: We report a rare case of a three-year-old female with bilateral Sprengel’s deformity associated with Klippel–Feil syndrome, distinguished by a unique horseshoe-shaped fused omovertebral bony bars connecting both scapulae to the cervical spine. The patient underwent simultaneous bilateral Modified Woodward’s procedure with resection of the fused omovertebral bony bars and anchoring both scapulae to the relevant vertebrae. Postoperatively, the patient demonstrated improved shoulder symmetry and full active range of motion at two months of follow-up, with no neurological complications. Conclusions: This case reports a previously unreported anatomical variant of bilateral Sprengel’s deformity associated with Klippel–Feil syndrome, characterized by a horseshoe-shaped fused omovertebral bone connecting both scapulae to the cervical spine. Simultaneous bilateral correction using a modified Woodward’s procedure achieved favorable cosmetic and functional outcomes, supporting its feasibility in selected pediatric patients. Thorough preoperative imaging remains critical for identifying complex anatomical variations and optimizing surgical outcomes. Full article

(1) Background: Sprengel’s deformity (SD) is a rare congenital anomaly caused by failure in the descent of the scapula. We aimed to systematically review the current literature reporting data from children undergoing surgery for SD, in order to explore the rate of success and complications of the different surgical techniques, possibly providing recommendations about the management of SD in children. (2) Methods: we electronically searched the literature from Ovid, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library databases. Demographic data, surgical procedures, outcomes and complications were analyzed. We categorized surgical procedures into five groups. (3) Results: 41 articles met the inclusion criteria, showing a poor overall study quality; 674 patients (711 shoulders) were analyzed. Green’s and Woodward’s procedures, both aiming the scapular relocation in a more anatomical position, were the most commonly used techniques. We counted 168 adverse events (18 major complications). The best clinical and cosmetic results seem to be achieved when surgery is performed in children aged less than eight years. (4) Conclusions: this paper represents the first systematic review reporting qualitative and quantitative data about the surgical treatment of SD. Surgery for SD seems to be effective in increasing the shoulder’s range of motion and improving the cosmetic appearance in almost all cases, with a low rate of major complications. Full article

A case of 5-year-old boy with a left congenital undescended scapula graded Cavendish III was consulted in our unit and operated successfully with the Woodward technique. It was the first case treated by this procedure for the past 10 years, in the Pediatric Surgical Unit of the Yaounde Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (Cameroon). The Woodward procedure permitted to obtain a good functional and cosmetic result. Full article