Study of suprascapular notch and its variants

Varsha P Dahiphale¹, Satishkumar S Porwal^2*, Shankar S Dhapate³

¹Associate Professor, ²Assistant Professor, ³Professor and HOD, Department of Anatomy, S.R.T.R. Government Medical College, Ambajogai-431517, Dist.-Beed. Maharashtra, INDIA.

Email: satish27181@yahoo.co.in

Abstract               Background and Aims: The suprascapularnotch (SSN) is a variable depression on the superior border of scapula medial to the base of the coracoid process. The shape and size of suprascapular notch is one of the most important risk factor in suprascapular nerve entrapment. The suprascapular nerve entrapment can occur at the suprascapular notch or at the spinoglenoid notch. Better knowledge of the suprascapularnoch anatomy may help to prevent and to assess more accurately suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome. Aim of the present study was to assess morphology and morphometry of SSN and correlate the findings with the risk of nerve entrapment. Material and Methods: A total 161 adult human scapulae obtained from various medical colleges of marathwada region of Maharashtra. Various shapes of SSN observed were photographed and classified. Various parameters of SSN measured by using digital verniercaliper. Results: Various shapes of SSN observed were mere a depression, ‘U’, ‘V’, suprascapular foramen and SSN with foramen. There are more chances of nerve entrapment with ‘V’ shaped nocth. Conclusions: The morphology and morphometric knowledge of SSN is essential to suspect suprascapular nerve entrapment as one of the cause of shoulder pain and weakness in shoulder movement. It is also helpful to prevent iatrogenic injury to suprascapular nerve during surgical procedures of shoulder region.

Key Words: Scapula, Suprascapular nerve entrapment, Suprascapular notch, variations.