ArticleOrphanet journal of rare diseases2025
Sprengel deformity: What is the functional outcome of conservative treatment versus surgical correction?
Article in Orphanet journal of rare diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- A Unique Presentation of Bilateral Sprengel's Deformity with a Horseshoe Configuration of Connected Omovertebral Bony Bars.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Surgical Correction of Sprengel's Deformity in Children Using the Modified Green Technique: A Functional and 3D Motion Analysis Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSprengel deformity is a rare congenital malformation of the scapula defined by malposition during embryonic development. Affected individuals have limited range of motion of the shoulder and torticollis. Surgical reconstruction is an option to treat patients with severe deformity and functional impairment. This retrospective single centre study evaluated 19 patients with 21 Sprengel deformities treated from 2016 to 2023. 11/19 patients had mild ROM limitations of the affected shoulder with a median abduction of 130° (interquartile range (IQR) 100-150) and were treated conservatively. 8/19 patients with severe Sprengel deformity and functional impairment underwent surgery (median age 6 years (IQR 4-6)). Surgery was conducted in a modified technique according to Green. The Cavendish and Rigault scores were employed to analyse function, cosmesis and the radiographic location of the scapula. Patient reported outcome measurements (EQ-5D-Y and the quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire) were both administered at the latest follow-up.
resultsPatients treated conservatively had a median abduction of the affected arm of 130° (IQR 100-150) and a median Cavendish and Rigault score of both 2 (IQR 2-3 and 1.3-2, respectively). In the surgery group the median abduction improved by 45° (IQR 28-53) from 90° (IQR 90-90) preoperatively to 135° (IQR 120-140) 3 months postoperatively and was 110° (IQR 108-128) at latest follow-up. The median Cavendish score improved from 4 (IQR 2-4) to 1 (IQR 1-2). The median Rigault score was lowered from 3 (IQR 3-3) to 1 (IQR 1-2). The median time to return to daily life was 3 months (IQR 2.2-3.5). The median quickDASH score was 11.4 (IQR 7-31) in the surgical cohort and 9.1 (IQR 5-22) in the conservative cohort at median maximum follow-up of 62 months (IQR 22-118). The median EQ-VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) score was 81/100 (IQR 79-85/100) in the surgical cohort and 80/100 (IQR 59-95/100) in the non-surgical cohort. 4/8 patients treated surgically had fully reversible complications.
conclusionsSurgical treatment of severe Sprengel deformity improves abduction of the affected shoulder and reduces disability in daily life. Patients with mild Sprengel deformity can have very good function of the shoulder and should not be considered for surgery.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.