The sensory branch distribution of the suprascapular nerve: An anatomic study

doi:10.1016/j.jse.2007.10.008

Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

Volume 17, Issue 3, May–June 2008, Pages 500-502

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2007.10.008 Get rights and content

The suprascapular nerve is responsible for most of the sensory innervation to the shoulder joint and is potentially at risk during surgery. In this study, 31 shoulders in 22 cadavers were dissected to investigate the sensory innervation of the shoulder joint by the suprascapular nerve, with special reference to its sensory branches. In 27 shoulders (87.1%), a small sensory branch was observed that splits off from the main stem of the suprascapular nerve proximal (48.2%), inferior (40.7%), or distal (11.1%) to the transverse scapular ligament. This percentage is considerably higher than has been previously found. In 74.2% of the shoulders, an acromial branch was also found, originating just proximal to the scapular neck, running to the infraspinatus tendon. These cadaveric results indicate that sensory branches to the shoulder joint are more common and numerous than previously described and therefore should be considered in shoulder surgery and nerve blocks to this area.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Dissections were performed in 31 shoulders in 22 randomly selected adult cadaveric specimens (15 men, 7 women) from the Department of Anatomy and Histology of the University of Stellenbosch. The cadavers had been preserved by embalming for a period of 8 to 12 months. Both shoulders were dissected in 9 cadavers and only 1 shoulder in each of the other 13 cadavers. The cadavers were a mean age of 49 years (range, 27 to 74 years).

During dissection, the location on the superior trunk of the

Results

The suprascapular nerve arises from the superior trunk of the brachial plexus and runs distally to the superior scapular notch and inferior to the transverse scapular ligament, mostly accompanied by the suprascapular vein. The suprascapular nerve then runs obliquely across the floor of the supraspinous fossa and around the scapular neck to enter the infraspinous fossa and innervate the infraspinatus muscle (Figure 1).

In 87.1% (27 of 31) of the shoulders dissected, a branch of the suprascapular

Discussion

Horiguchi⁷ referred to a study in 1977 by Murakami, who described a cutaneous branch of the suprascapular nerve in 3.3% (n = 61) of a Japanese population. Horiguchi⁷ found this same nerve branch in 9.8% (n = 61) of a Japanese population. In an Indian population, Ajmani¹ found it in 14.7% (n = 34). Our dissections demonstrate a branch with a similar course in 87.1% (n = 31) of South Africans belonging to 3 different racial groups (black, white, and mixed origin).

The difference in the occurrence

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Original articleThe sensory branch distribution of the suprascapular nerve: An anatomic study

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Results

Discussion

The cutaneous branch of the human suprascapular nerve

J Anat

Innervation of the human shoulder joint and its implications for surgery

Clin Orthop

Neurologic complications of shoulder surgery

Clin Orthop

A new technique of continuous interscalene nerve block

Can J Anaesth

Double blind randomized clinical trial examining the efficacy of bupivacaine suprascapular nerve blocks in frozen shoulder

J. Rheumatol

Shoulder numbness in a patient with suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome: cutaneous branch of the suprascapular nerve: case report

Neurosurgery

The cutaneous branch of some human suprascapular nerves

J Anat

Sensory nerve supply in the human subacromial bursa

J Shoulder Elbow Surg

Original article
The sensory branch distribution of the suprascapular nerve: An anatomic study