Sprengel's deformity : a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Sprengel's deformity or congenital elevation of the scapula is a rare congenital disorder where the scapula is abnormally elevated and dysplastic (1 ). The condition was first described in 1863, and named after Otto Gerhard Karl Sprengel, who reported on four cases in 1891 (2). Although it is considered to be the most common congenital deformity of the shoulder, its incidence is unknown since a vast number of cases remain undiagnosed (3). The condition is more common in females, with a female-to-male ratio of 3:1 (4). Although the deformity typically affects one shoulder, it may also be bilateral, and occurs in approximately 10 to 30% of cases (5).