Suprascapular Nerve: Is It Important in Cuff Pathology?

Suprascapular nerve and rotator cuff function are intimately connected. The incidence of suprascapular neuropathy has been increasing due to improved understanding of the disease entity and detection methods. The nerve dysfunction often results from a traction injury or compression, and a common cau...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lewis L. Shi, Michael T. Freehill, Paul Yannopoulos, Jon J. P. Warner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Advances in Orthopedics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/516985
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850173267838500864
author Lewis L. Shi
Michael T. Freehill
Paul Yannopoulos
Jon J. P. Warner
author_facet Lewis L. Shi
Michael T. Freehill
Paul Yannopoulos
Jon J. P. Warner
author_sort Lewis L. Shi
collection DOAJ
description Suprascapular nerve and rotator cuff function are intimately connected. The incidence of suprascapular neuropathy has been increasing due to improved understanding of the disease entity and detection methods. The nerve dysfunction often results from a traction injury or compression, and a common cause is increased tension on the nerve from retracted rotator cuff tears. Suprascapular neuropathy should be considered as a diagnosis if patients exhibit posterosuperior shoulder pain, atrophy or weakness of supraspinatus and infraspinatus without rotator cuff tear, or massive rotator cuff with retraction. Magnetic resonance imaging and electromyography studies are indicated to evaluate the rotator cuff and function of the nerve. Fluoroscopically guided injections to the suprascapular notch can also be considered as a diagnostic option. Nonoperative treatment of suprascapular neuropathy can be successful, but in the recent decade there is increasing evidence espousing the success of surgical treatment, in particular arthroscopic suprascapular nerve decompression. There is often reliable improvement in shoulder pain, but muscle atrophy recovery is less predictable. More clinical data are needed to determine the role of rotator cuff repair and nerve decompression in the same setting.
format Article
id doaj-art-cd19ad60dd0848a1937ad42e8ff39807
institution OA Journals
issn 2090-3464
2090-3472
language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Advances in Orthopedics
spelling doaj-art-cd19ad60dd0848a1937ad42e8ff398072025-08-20T02:19:53ZengWileyAdvances in Orthopedics2090-34642090-34722012-01-01201210.1155/2012/516985516985Suprascapular Nerve: Is It Important in Cuff Pathology?Lewis L. Shi0Michael T. Freehill1Paul Yannopoulos2Jon J. P. Warner3Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Hospitals, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 3079, Chicago, IL 60637, USADepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Medical Center Boulevard, P.O. Box 1070, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1070, USADivision of Shoulder Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Yawkey Center 3G, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USADivision of Shoulder Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Yawkey Center 3G, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USASuprascapular nerve and rotator cuff function are intimately connected. The incidence of suprascapular neuropathy has been increasing due to improved understanding of the disease entity and detection methods. The nerve dysfunction often results from a traction injury or compression, and a common cause is increased tension on the nerve from retracted rotator cuff tears. Suprascapular neuropathy should be considered as a diagnosis if patients exhibit posterosuperior shoulder pain, atrophy or weakness of supraspinatus and infraspinatus without rotator cuff tear, or massive rotator cuff with retraction. Magnetic resonance imaging and electromyography studies are indicated to evaluate the rotator cuff and function of the nerve. Fluoroscopically guided injections to the suprascapular notch can also be considered as a diagnostic option. Nonoperative treatment of suprascapular neuropathy can be successful, but in the recent decade there is increasing evidence espousing the success of surgical treatment, in particular arthroscopic suprascapular nerve decompression. There is often reliable improvement in shoulder pain, but muscle atrophy recovery is less predictable. More clinical data are needed to determine the role of rotator cuff repair and nerve decompression in the same setting.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/516985
spellingShingle Lewis L. Shi
Michael T. Freehill
Paul Yannopoulos
Jon J. P. Warner
Suprascapular Nerve: Is It Important in Cuff Pathology?
Advances in Orthopedics
title Suprascapular Nerve: Is It Important in Cuff Pathology?
title_full Suprascapular Nerve: Is It Important in Cuff Pathology?
title_fullStr Suprascapular Nerve: Is It Important in Cuff Pathology?
title_full_unstemmed Suprascapular Nerve: Is It Important in Cuff Pathology?
title_short Suprascapular Nerve: Is It Important in Cuff Pathology?
title_sort suprascapular nerve is it important in cuff pathology
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/516985
work_keys_str_mv AT lewislshi suprascapularnerveisitimportantincuffpathology
AT michaeltfreehill suprascapularnerveisitimportantincuffpathology
AT paulyannopoulos suprascapularnerveisitimportantincuffpathology
AT jonjpwarner suprascapularnerveisitimportantincuffpathology