Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41824849›Full record

ArticleMedicine2026

A case report on 2 cases of closed scapular fractures caused by low-voltage alternating current shock.

Jia-Qi Jia, Hong-Jun Liu, Jun-Chao Dai, Kang Geng

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In one paragraph

Article in Medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
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1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Jia-Qi JiaDepartment of Plastic and Burn Surgery, National Key Clinical Construction Specialty, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0002-5171-7437
Hong-Jun LiuDepartment of Plastic and Burn Surgery, National Key Clinical Construction Specialty, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Jun-Chao DaiDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Kang GengDepartment of Plastic and Burn Surgery, National Key Clinical Construction Specialty, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0009-0008-7696-542

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

rationaleScapular fractures caused by domestic low-voltage alternating current (220 V, 50 Hz) electrical injury are rare and can be easily missed or misdiagnosed in emergency clinical practice. This report presents 2 such cases and, through a pooled analysis of relevant literature, summarizes and analyzes the underlying mechanism, key points for early diagnosis, and treatment strategies for this rare injury pattern. The aim is to enhance clinical awareness of this condition and to provide a reference for early recognition and standardized management. PATIENT CONCERNS: At the instant of electrical current passage through the upper limb, both patients experienced an intense shock, followed immediately by severe shoulder pain and restricted upper limb movement. Upon presentation, despite only minor cutaneous injuries, both patients reported intense pain localized to the scapular region. This discrepancy between the relatively mild superficial findings and the severity of their symptoms caused considerable confusion and concern, with fear of an invisible severe injury. DIAGNOSES: Computed tomography imaging confirmed scapular fractures in both patients.

interventionsAfter excluding the risk of potential systemic injuries, both patients underwent conservative management comprising sling immobilization, analgesia, and progressive rehabilitation exercises. OUTCOMES: Following 6 weeks of treatment, both patients reported satisfaction with the therapeutic effect, and at the 6-month follow-up, they demonstrated complete functional recovery of the shoulder joint. LESSONS: Even in the absence of visible entry or exit cutaneous lesions, the intense tetanic muscle contractions induced by low-voltage electrical shock can be sufficient to cause scapular fractures. For patients presenting with shoulder pain following low-voltage alternating current electrical injury - regardless of skin integrity - clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for this rare injury so as not to miss the diagnosis.

Indexed as

Electric InjuriesFractures, BoneFractures, ClosedScapulaAdultHumansMaleShoulder PainTomography, X-Ray Computedalternating currentelectric injurylow voltagescapular fracture

Identifiers

PMID41824849
PMCPMC12991714

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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.