Entrapment of the suprascapular nerve

Operative release for entrapment of the suprascapular nerve was carried out in 35 patients. They were assessed at an average of 30 months (12 to 98) a fter operation using the functional shoulder score devised by Constant and Murley, The average age at the time of surgery was 40 years (17 to 67), Ent rapment was due to injury in ten patients and no cause was found in three; 34 had diffuse posterolateral shoulder pain. The strength of abduction was reduced in all the patients. The average Constant score, unadjusted for age or gender, before operative release was 47% (28 to 53), In 25 of the patients both the supraspinatus an d infraspinatus muscles were atrophied and seven had isolated atrophy of th e infraspinatus muscle, The average conduction time from Erb's point to the supraspinatus muscle and to the infraspinatus muscle was 5.7 ms (2.8 to 12 .8) and 7.4 ms (3.4 to 13.4), respectively, Tn two patients MRI revealed a ganglion in the infraspinatus fossa and, in another, a complete rupture of the rotator cuff. The average time from the onset of symptoms to operation was ten months (3 to 36). A posterior approach was advocated. The average Constant score, aft er operative release, unadjusted for age or gender was 77% (35 to 91), The overall result was excellent in ten of the patients, very goad in seven, go od in 14, fair in two, and poor in two. The symptomatic and functional outc ome in our series confirmed the usefulness and safety of operative decompre ssion for entrapment of the suprascapular nerve.