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Arthroscopic suprascapular nerve decompression: transarticular and subacromial approach.

ABSTRACT: Entrapment of the suprascapular nerve (SSN) is an increasingly recognized entity that can occur due to traction or compression-related etiology. Traction injuries of the SSN are unlikely to respond to surgical management and frequently improve with rest and avoidance of overhead activity. Compression injuries, on the other hand, frequently require surgical decompression for pain relief. SSN entrapment caused by compression at the suprascapular notch by the transverse scapular ligament gives rise to pain and atrophy of both the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. However, compression at the spinoglenoid notch is more insidious because pain fibers may not be involved, causing isolated external rotation weakness. We present our preferred surgical technique for safe decompression of the SSN at the suprascapular and spinoglenoid notch using a subacromial and intra-articular approach, respectively. The key to ensuring efficient and uncomplicated decompression of the SSN relies on an intimate knowledge of the neurovascular anatomy and related landmarks.

SUBMITTER: Bhatia S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3678651 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Arthroscopic suprascapular nerve decompression: transarticular and subacromial approach.

Bhatia Sanjeev S Chalmers Peter N PN Yanke Adam B AB Romeo Anthony A AA Verma Nikhil N NN

Arthroscopy techniques 20120928 2

Entrapment of the suprascapular nerve (SSN) is an increasingly recognized entity that can occur due to traction or compression-related etiology. Traction injuries of the SSN are unlikely to respond to surgical management and frequently improve with rest and avoidance of overhead activity. Compression injuries, on the other hand, frequently require surgical decompression for pain relief. SSN entrapment caused by compression at the suprascapular notch by the transverse scapular ligament gives rise ...[more]

PMID: 23766994

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Project description:BackgroundArthroscopic sub-acromial decompression (decompressing the sub-acromial space by removing bone spurs and soft tissue arthroscopically) is a common surgery for subacromial shoulder pain, but its effectiveness is uncertain. We did a study to assess its effectiveness and to investigate the mechanism for surgical decompression.MethodsWe did a multicentre, randomised, pragmatic, parallel group, placebo-controlled, three-group trial at 32 hospitals in the UK with 51 surgeons. Participants were patients who had subacromial pain for at least 3 months with intact rotator cuff tendons, were eligible for arthroscopic surgery, and had previously completed a non-operative management programme that included exercise therapy and at least one steroid injection. Exclusion criteria included a full-thickness torn rotator cuff. We randomly assigned participants (1:1:1) to arthroscopic subacromial decompression, investigational arthroscopy only, or no treatment (attendance of one reassessment appointment with a specialist shoulder clinician 3 months after study entry, but no intervention). Arthroscopy only was a placebo as the essential surgical element (bone and soft tissue removal) was omitted. We did the randomisation with a computer-generated minimisation system. In the surgical intervention groups, patients were not told which type of surgery they were receiving (to ensure masking). Patients were followed up at 6 months and 1 year after randomisation; surgeons coordinated their waiting lists to schedule surgeries as close as possible to randomisation. The primary outcome was the Oxford Shoulder Score (0 [worst] to 48 [best]) at 6 months, analysed by intention to treat. The sample size calculation was based upon a target difference of 4·5 points (SD 9·0). This trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01623011.FindingsBetween Sept 14, 2012, and June 16, 2015, we randomly assigned 313 patients to treatment groups (106 to decompression surgery, 103 to arthroscopy only, and 104 to no treatment). 24 [23%], 43 [42%], and 12 [12%] of the decompression, arthroscopy only, and no treatment groups, respectively, did not receive their assigned treatment by 6 months. At 6 months, data for the Oxford Shoulder Score were available for 90 patients assigned to decompression, 94 to arthroscopy, and 90 to no treatment. Mean Oxford Shoulder Score did not differ between the two surgical groups at 6 months (decompression mean 32·7 points [SD 11·6] vs arthroscopy mean 34·2 points [9·2]; mean difference -1·3 points (95% CI -3·9 to 1·3, p=0·3141). Both surgical groups showed a small benefit over no treatment (mean 29·4 points [SD 11·9], mean difference vs decompression 2·8 points [95% CI 0·5-5·2], p=0·0186; mean difference vs arthroscopy 4·2 [1·8-6·6], p=0·0014) but these differences were not clinically important. There were six study-related complications that were all frozen shoulders (in two patients in each group).InterpretationSurgical groups had better outcomes for shoulder pain and function compared with no treatment but this difference was not clinically important. Additionally, surgical decompression appeared to offer no extra benefit over arthroscopy only. The difference between the surgical groups and no treatment might be the result of, for instance, a placebo effect or postoperative physiotherapy. The findings question the value of this operation for these indications, and this should be communicated to patients during the shared treatment decision-making process.FundingArthritis Research UK, the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, and the Royal College of Surgeons (England).

Dataset Information

Arthroscopic suprascapular nerve decompression: transarticular and subacromial approach.

Publications

Arthroscopic suprascapular nerve decompression: transarticular and subacromial approach.

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