CC BY 4.0 · J Brachial Plex Peripher Nerve Inj 2021; 16(01): e31-e36
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731749
Original Contribution

Morphometry and Contents of the Suprascapular Notch with Potential Clinical Implications: Α Cadaveric Study

George Tsikouris
1   Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
,
Ioannis Antonopoulos
1   Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
,
Dionysia Vasdeki
1   Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
,
Dimosthenis Chrysikos
1   Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
,
Athanasios Koukakis
1   Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
,
George Tsakotos
1   Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
,
Panagiotis Georgakopoulos
1   Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
,
Theodore Troupis
1   Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Background The suprascapular notch (SN) represents the point along the route of the suprascapular nerve (SSN) with the greatest potential risk for injury and compression. Thus, factors reducing the area of the notch have been postulated for suprascapular neuropathy development.

Methods Thirty-one fresh-frozen shoulders were dissected. The contents of the SN were described according to four types as classified by Polguj et al and the middle-transverse diameter of the notch was measured. Also, the presence of an ossified superior transverse scapular ligament (STSL) was identified.

Results The ligament was partially ossified in 8 specimens (25.8%), fully ossified in 6 (19.35%), and not ossified in the remaining 17 (54.85%). The mean middle-transverse diameter of the SN was 9.06 mm (standard deviation [SD] = 3.45). The corresponding for type-I notches was 8.64 mm (SD = 3.34), 8.86 mm (SD = 3.12) was for type-II, and 14.5 mm (SD = 1.02) was for type III. Middle-transverse diameter was shorter when an ossified ligament was present (mean = 5.10 mm, SD = 0.88 mm), comparing with a partially ossified ligament (mean =7.67 mm, SD = 2.24 mm) and a nonossified one (mean = 11.12 mm, SD = 2.92 mm). No statistically significant evidence was found that the middle-transverse diameter depends on the number of the elements, passing below the STSL.

Conclusion Our results suggest that SSN compression could be more likely to occur when both suprascapular vessels pass through the notch. Compression of the nerve may also occur when an ossified transverse scapular ligament is present, resulting to significant reduction of the notch's area.



Publication History

Received: 13 February 2021

Accepted: 07 April 2021

Article published online:
27 July 2021

© 2021. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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