Scapular winging on Exercise Cambrian Patrol: three soldiers in three days - an occupational risk?

Exercise CAMBRIAN PATROL is an internationally recognised, arduous patrolling exercise held annually in Mid-South Wales. The 2017 iteration of the exercise generated three uncommon shoulder injuries in three consecutive days, all of which were thought to have a similar aetiology. This article presen...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inBMJ military health Vol. 165; no. 5; pp. 371 - 373
Main Authors Green, Samuel, Hodgson, H, Bobrowski, J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.10.2019
Subjects
Adult
Casualties
Humans
Male
Military history
Military Personnel
Neurological disorders
Pain
Patients
Physical Therapy Modalities
Shoulder - pathology
Shoulder Injuries
Sports injuries
Thoracic Nerves - injuries
Young Adult
United Kingdom > UK
Paralysis
Scapula
physical therapy modalities
Military Medicine
Occupational Health
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Exercise CAMBRIAN PATROL is an internationally recognised, arduous patrolling exercise held annually in Mid-South Wales. The 2017 iteration of the exercise generated three uncommon shoulder injuries in three consecutive days, all of which were thought to have a similar aetiology. This article presents a case series of three instances of scapular winging in soldiers carrying heavy weight. We review the relevant anatomy and pathophysiology of long thoracic nerve injury and discuss management strategies of scapular winging. Occupational health considerations are reviewed, with respect to carrying large amounts of weight over distance and difficult terrain within the armed forces, along with discussion of a novel weight distribution system (VIRTUS) which has recently been brought into service by the British Army.
ISSN:0035-8665
2633-3767
2052-0468
2633-3775
DOI:10.1136/jramc-2018-001071