International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences

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Suprascapular Nerve: Anatomical and Clinical Study

Received: 23 March 2016    Accepted: 30 March 2016    Published: 25 April 2016
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Abstract

The suprascapular nerve arises from the upper trunk (Erb’s point) of the brachial plexus in the posterior triangle of the neck.This research was conducted to study the anatomy of the suprascapular nerve in the scapular region and its relation to both suprascapular and spinoglenoid notches. This data is very important in suprascapular nerve block and suprascapular nerve surgical decompression. Dissection of 20 scapular regions of 10 formalin preserved male cadavers was done. Also thirty three adult patients; 26 males and 7 females suffering from vague shoulder pain subjected to suprascapular nerve surgical decompression. In all cadaveric specimens, careful dissection and anatomical study of suprascapular nerve regarding its course, distribution and relations was carried out. Origin of the nerve was demonstrated from upper trunk of the brachial plexus. Passage of the nerve through a narrow medial compartment of supraglenoid canal in all cases has been identified. Measurements of two important diameters relevant to suprascapular notch were also reported. The transverse scapular ligament was identified to be of uniform thickness. In the clinical study of all cases with suprascapular nerve entrapment regardless its etiology whether idiopathic or not, conservative therapy by means of the exercise was of limited value especially for the motor affection. All of the cases were subjected to surgical maneuverer to decompress the nerve. It is concluded that the anatomical findings allow better choice of the surgical procedure, more precise surgical dissection, better results and fewer complications.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijcems.20160203.11
Published in International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 3, May 2016)
Page(s) 31-39
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Suprascapular Nerve, Suprascapular Notch, Spinoglenoid Notch, Suprascapular Nerve Entrapment, Suprascapular Nerve Block

References
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Author Information
  • Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

  • Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

  • Orthopaedic Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

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  • APA Style

    El Sayed Aly Mohamed Metwally, Rasha Mohamed Elshenety, Bahaa Ahmed Motawea. (2016). Suprascapular Nerve: Anatomical and Clinical Study. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, 2(3), 31-39. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcems.20160203.11

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    ACS Style

    El Sayed Aly Mohamed Metwally; Rasha Mohamed Elshenety; Bahaa Ahmed Motawea. Suprascapular Nerve: Anatomical and Clinical Study. Int. J. Clin. Exp. Med. Sci. 2016, 2(3), 31-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcems.20160203.11

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    AMA Style

    El Sayed Aly Mohamed Metwally, Rasha Mohamed Elshenety, Bahaa Ahmed Motawea. Suprascapular Nerve: Anatomical and Clinical Study. Int J Clin Exp Med Sci. 2016;2(3):31-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcems.20160203.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijcems.20160203.11,
      author = {El Sayed Aly Mohamed Metwally and Rasha Mohamed Elshenety and Bahaa Ahmed Motawea},
      title = {Suprascapular Nerve: Anatomical and Clinical Study},
      journal = {International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {3},
      pages = {31-39},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijcems.20160203.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcems.20160203.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijcems.20160203.11},
      abstract = {The suprascapular nerve arises from the upper trunk (Erb’s point) of the brachial plexus in the posterior triangle of the neck.This research was conducted to study the anatomy of the suprascapular nerve in the scapular region and its relation to both suprascapular and spinoglenoid notches. This data is very important in suprascapular nerve block and suprascapular nerve surgical decompression. Dissection of 20 scapular regions of 10 formalin preserved male cadavers was done. Also thirty three adult patients; 26 males and 7 females suffering from vague shoulder pain subjected to suprascapular nerve surgical decompression. In all cadaveric specimens, careful dissection and anatomical study of suprascapular nerve regarding its course, distribution and relations was carried out. Origin of the nerve was demonstrated from upper trunk of the brachial plexus. Passage of the nerve through a narrow medial compartment of supraglenoid canal in all cases has been identified. Measurements of two important diameters relevant to suprascapular notch were also reported. The transverse scapular ligament was identified to be of uniform thickness. In the clinical study of all cases with suprascapular nerve entrapment regardless its etiology whether idiopathic or not, conservative therapy by means of the exercise was of limited value especially for the motor affection. All of the cases were subjected to surgical maneuverer to decompress the nerve. It is concluded that the anatomical findings allow better choice of the surgical procedure, more precise surgical dissection, better results and fewer complications.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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    T1  - Suprascapular Nerve: Anatomical and Clinical Study
    AU  - El Sayed Aly Mohamed Metwally
    AU  - Rasha Mohamed Elshenety
    AU  - Bahaa Ahmed Motawea
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    T2  - International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    AB  - The suprascapular nerve arises from the upper trunk (Erb’s point) of the brachial plexus in the posterior triangle of the neck.This research was conducted to study the anatomy of the suprascapular nerve in the scapular region and its relation to both suprascapular and spinoglenoid notches. This data is very important in suprascapular nerve block and suprascapular nerve surgical decompression. Dissection of 20 scapular regions of 10 formalin preserved male cadavers was done. Also thirty three adult patients; 26 males and 7 females suffering from vague shoulder pain subjected to suprascapular nerve surgical decompression. In all cadaveric specimens, careful dissection and anatomical study of suprascapular nerve regarding its course, distribution and relations was carried out. Origin of the nerve was demonstrated from upper trunk of the brachial plexus. Passage of the nerve through a narrow medial compartment of supraglenoid canal in all cases has been identified. Measurements of two important diameters relevant to suprascapular notch were also reported. The transverse scapular ligament was identified to be of uniform thickness. In the clinical study of all cases with suprascapular nerve entrapment regardless its etiology whether idiopathic or not, conservative therapy by means of the exercise was of limited value especially for the motor affection. All of the cases were subjected to surgical maneuverer to decompress the nerve. It is concluded that the anatomical findings allow better choice of the surgical procedure, more precise surgical dissection, better results and fewer complications.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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