Morphometry of the Suprascapular Notch: Correlation with Scapular Dimensions and Clinical Relevance

Overview

Journal BMC Musculoskelet Disord

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Orthopedics
Physiology

Date 2013 May 28

PMID 23705803

Citations 12

Authors

Paolo Albino

Stefano Carbone

Vittorio Candela

Valerio Arceri

Anna Rita Vestri

Stefano Gumina

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Better knowledge of the suprascapular notch anatomy may help to prevent and to assess more accurately suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome. Our purposes were to verify the reliability of the existing data, to assess the differences between the two genders, to verify the correlation between the dimensions of the scapula and the suprascapular notch, and to investigate the relationship between the suprascapular notch and the postero-superior limit of the safe zone for the suprascapular nerve.

Methods: We examined 500 dried scapulae, measuring seven distances related to the scapular body and suprascapular notch; they were also catalogued according to gender, age and side. Suprascapular notch was classified in accordance with Rengachary's method. For each class, we also took into consideration the width/depth ratio. Furthermore, Pearson's correlation was calculated.

Results: The frequencies were: Type I 12.4%, Type II 19.8%, Type III 22.8%, Type IV 31.1%, Type V 10.2%, Type VI 3.6%. Width and depth did not demonstrate a statistical significant difference when analyzed according to gender and side; however, a significant difference was found between the depth means elaborated according to median age (73 y.o.). Correlation indexes were weak or not statistically significant. The differences among the postero-superior limits of the safe zone in the six types of notches was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Patient's characteristics (gender, age and scapular dimensions) are not related to the characteristics of the suprascapular notch (dimensions and Type); our data suggest that the entrapment syndrome is more likely to be associated with a Type III notch because of its specific features.

Citing Articles

Morphometry of the Scapular Notch and Its Clinical Implication in Suprascapular Nerve Entrapment.

Duque-Colorado J, Alzate-Mejia O, Del Sol M Diagnostics (Basel). 2025; 15(3).

PMID: 39941276 PMC: 11817711. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15030346.

Three-Dimensional Morphological Analysis of the Suprascapular Notch in Patients with Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.

Noh K, Lee S, Park C, Bai H, Kim J Clin Orthop Surg. 2024; 16(4):586-593.

PMID: 39092301 PMC: 11262953. DOI: 10.4055/cios24013.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Suprascapular Notch Morphological Variability: Do We Know Everything?.

Tsakotos G, Tudose R, Triantafyllou G, Koutserimpas C, Rusu M, Flevas D Cureus. 2024; 16(3):e55852.

PMID: 38590476 PMC: 11001262. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.55852.

Morphological types and morphometrical measurements of the suprascapular notch in both dry bones and human cadavers: anatomical study to improve the outcomes of the diagnostic and interventional procedures in the shoulder region.

Nasr A Anat Cell Biol. 2023; 56(4):482-493.

PMID: 37853804 PMC: 10714089. DOI: 10.5115/acb.23.167.

Correlation of suprascapular notch morphology with suprascapular nerve palsy: a 3D-computed tomography study.

Honoki K, Suenaga N, Oizumi N, Yamane S, Yoshioka C, Hisada Y JSES Int. 2023; 7(2):316-323.

PMID: 36911777 PMC: 9998890. DOI: 10.1016/j.jseint.2022.12.016.

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