Welcome to International Journal of Anatomy and Research

Type of Article: Original Research

Year: 2016 | Volume 4 | Issue 3 | Page No. 2536-2541

Date of Publication: 31-07-2016

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2016.267

MORPHOMETRY AND MORPHOLOGY OF SUPRA SCAPULAR NOTCH: IT’S IMPORTANCE IN SUPRASCAPULAR NERVE ENTRAPMENT

Neeta Chhabra ^*1, Suraj Prakash ¹, MS Ahuja ².

^*1 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anatomy, Army College of Medical Sciences, Delhi Cantt, India.

² Professor and Head, Dept. of Anatomy, Army College of Medical Sciences, Delhi Cantt, India..

Address: Dr. Neeta Chhabra,  Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anatomy, Army College of Medical Sciences, Delhi Cantt-10, India.
E-Mail: neetachhabra86@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Introduction:  Suprascapular notch is the common site for entrapment of supra scapular nerve. SSN compression usually presents with vague pain across the scapula or dull shoulder ache. It is more common in overhead athletes like volleyball players. Better knowledge of the suprascapular notch anatomy may help to prevent and to assess more accurately suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome. The regional variations in the incidence of complete absence of suprascapular notch and its involvement in suprascapular nerve entrapment neuropathy should be kept in mind during surgical or arthroscopic shoulder procedures.
Materials and Methods: The present study is done on the basis of classification proposed by Iqbal and Natis et al. 126 scapulae of North Indian origin were taken for the study. Morphometric measurement and shape of each supra scapular notch was studied.
Results: The present study showed Type II supra scapular notch (TD>VL) as the most common Type which was found in 47.6%.of specimens. The most common shape of SSN found was U shaped (46%) followed by V shaped & J shaped at 24.6%& 15.9% respectively. Complete ossification of STSL leading to formation of bony foramen was observed in 2.4% while both notch and a bony foramen together was not found even in a single scapula in our study.
Conclusion: The shape & dimensions of SSN and complete ossification of STSL has been shown to be associated with increased risk of supra scapular nerve entrapment, resulting in weakness and wasting of supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. Anatomical knowledge of such variations should be kept in mind during surgical and arthroscopic shoulder procedures.
KEY WORDS: Scapula, suprascapular nerve, suprascapular notch, superior transverse scapular ligament, Vernier calipers.

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Neeta Chhabra, Suraj Prakash, MS Ahuja. MORPHOMETRY AND MORPHOLOGY OF SUPRA SCAPULAR NOTCH: IT’S IMPORTANCE IN SUPRASCAPULAR NERVE ENTRAPMENT. Int J Anat Res 2016;4(3):2536-2541. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2016.267