title: The utility of spine surgery instrumentation in decompression of the suprascapular notch.
abstract: Decompression of the suprascapular nerve through the posterior approach minimizes muscular damage and postoperative scar. The difficulty with this approach is that the depth of the exposure makes operating around the delicate structures of the suprascapular artery and nerve challenging. Spine surgery instrumentation is very helpful in circumventing this problem. Once exposure is achieved, a nerve root retractor is used to retract the suprascapular artery and vein. A number 2 Woody Woodson elevator is used to protect the suprascapular nerve. A number 1 or 2 Kerrison rongeur is then used to resect the suprascapular ligament. The Kerrison rongeur is a particularly useful instrument if an ossified ligament is encountered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Topper
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000601:surgery*; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000601:surgery*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation; D013525:Surgical Instruments