A 3-year-old girl has a left shoulder held higher than the right, with limited shoulder abduction. Radiograph shows a small, high-riding left scapula with an abnormal bar of bone connecting its superomedial border to the cervical spine. This bar is best described as:

• A Os acromiale
• B Supracondylar process
• C Coracoclavicular bar
• D Omovertebral bone ✓

Explanation

Sprengel deformity is congenital elevation and hypoplasia of the scapula, causing cosmetic asymmetry and limited abduction. In roughly a third of cases an omovertebral bone, a fibrous, cartilaginous or osseous bar, connects the superomedial scapula to the cervical vertebrae and further restricts motion. It is frequently associated with Klippel-Feil syndrome, scoliosis and renal anomalies. Surgical consideration depends on functional limitation and cosmesis rather than the radiograph alone.

Reference: Tachdjian's Pediatric Orthopaedics, 5th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.