ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of posterior minimally invasive approach for internal fixation of displaced scapula fractures. MethodsBetween January 2006 and December 2011,16 patients with scapular fractures underwent surgical fixation by a minimally invasive approach,including 11 cases of displaced glenoid fractures and 5 cases of unstable scapular neck/body fractures.There were 12 males and 4 females,aged 35-69 years (mean,53 years).The causes of injury were traffic accident in 10 cases,falling from height in 4 cases,and tumble in 2 cases.In 11 cases of displaced glenoid fractures,6 were rated as Ideberg type Ⅱ,2 as Ideberg type Ⅲ,1 as Ideberg type IV,and 2 as Ideberg type V,with a fracture displacement of more than 3 mm.In 5 cases of unstable scapular neck/body fractures,there were 3 cases of scapular neck fractures and 2 cases of scapular body fractures,with a fracture end angulation of more than 20°;3 cases had floating shoulder injury.The interval of injury and operation was 4-14 days (mean,6 days). ResultsThe mean operation time was 105.8 minutes;the mean intraoperative blood loss was 105.8 mL,and the mean hospitalization time was 17.6 days.Three patients had inflammation around the surgical incision,which was controlled by change dressing;primary healing of incision was obtained in the others.The patients were followed up 12-36 months (mean,24 months);all fractures healed within 12-19 weeks (mean,15.8 weeks).There was no implant failure or deep infection.Constant shoulder score,disability of the arm,shoulder,and hand (DASH) score,and visual analogue scale (VAS) score at post-operation had a significant improvement when compared with scores at pre-operation (P<0.05),but no significant difference was found between different time points at post-operation (P>0.05).Shoulder joint activities were gradually restored during the follow-up;the shoulder range of motion in elevation,abduction,internal rotation,and external rotation at 12 months after operation and last follow-up were significantly higher than those at 6 months after operation (P<0.05),but difference was not significant between at 12 months and last follow-up (P>0.05). ConclusionPosterior minimally invasive approach for internal fixation has good effectiveness in treating displaced scapula fractures,with the advantages of no need for a large subcutaneous flap and an extensive Judet incision or creation of muscular flaps.