Abstract
PurposeThe most common place for suprascapular nerve entrapment is the suprascapular notch. The aim of the study was to determine the morphological variation of the location of the suprascapular nerve, artery and vein, and measure the reduction in size of the suprascapular opening in each type of the passage. MethodsA total of 106 human formalin-fixed cadaveric shoulders were included in the study. After dissection of the suprascapular region, the topography of the suprascapular nerve, artery and vein was evaluated. Additionally, the area of the suprascapular opening was measured using professional image analysis software.ResultsFour arrangements of the suprascapular vein, artery and nerve were distinguished with regard to the superior transverse scapular ligament: type I (61.3 %) (suprascapular artery was running above ligament, while suprascapular vein and nerve below it), type II (17 %) (both vessels pass above ligament, while nerve passes under it), type III (12.3 %) (suprascapular vessels and nerve lie under ligament) and type IV (9.4 %), which comprises the other variants of these structures. Statistically significant differences regarding the suprascapular opening were observed between the specimens with types II and III. Anterior coracoscapular ligaments were present in 55 from 106 shoulders.ConclusionThe morphological variations described in this study are necessary to better understand the possible anatomical conditions which may promote suprascapular nerve entrapment (especially type III). They may be useful during open and endoscopic procedures at the suprascapular notch to prevent such complications as unexpected bleeding.
Highlights
The natural passage of the suprascapular nerve provides several locations where it is predisposed to compression and injury
Four arrangements of the suprascapular vein, artery and nerve were distinguished with regard to the superior transverse scapular ligament: type I (61.3 %)
Topol Department of Normal and Clinical Anatomy, Medical University of Łodz, Łodz, Poland suprascapular vein and nerve below it), type II (17 %), type III (12.3 %) and type IV (9.4 %), which comprises the other variants of these structures
Summary
The natural passage of the suprascapular nerve provides several locations where it is predisposed to compression and injury. The most common point for nerve compression and traction injury is the suprascapular notch [16, 26]. The suprascapular nerve is the structure that always passes under the superior transverse scapular ligament [20, 21, 24]. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2015) 23:1542–1548 complete suprascapular triad: the nerve, artery and vein. This is a very important subject, because the route taken by the suprascapular artery under the superior transverse scapular ligament could be one of the possible causes of suprascapular nerve entrapment [2, 22, 23]
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have