title: Recovery of sensory disturbance after arthroscopic decompression of the suprascapular nerve.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The existence of sensory branches of the suprascapular nerve (SSN) has recently been reported, and sensory disturbance at the lateral and posterior aspect of the shoulder has been focused on as a symptom of SSN palsy. We have performed arthroscopic release of SSN at the suprascapular notch in patients with sensory disturbance since 2006. The purposes of this study were to introduce the arthroscopic surgical technique and investigate postoperative recovery of sensory disturbance.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 11 men and 14 women (25 shoulders), with an average age of 63.9 years (range, 41-77 years). Arthroscopic decompression of the SSN was performed using a suprascapular nerve (SN) portal as a landmark for approaching the suprascapular notch. Sensory disturbance of the shoulder was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. The average follow-up was 18.5 months (range, 12-30 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The arthroscopic procedures were performed safely. The preoperative sensory disturbance fully recovered postoperatively in all shoulders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arthroscopic release of the SSN is a useful procedure for SSN entrapment at the suprascapular notch. The sensory disturbance at the lateral and posterior aspect of the shoulder can be used as one of the criteria of diagnosing SSN palsy, especially in shoulders with massive rotator cuff tear, in which diagnosing and assessing the treatment results of associated SSN palsy is usually difficult.
authors.affiliation: The Upper Extremity Center of Joint Replacement and Endoscopic Surgery, Hokushin Orthopaedic Hospital, Sapporo, Japan. nao9877@gmail.com
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oizumi
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suenaga
authors.forename: Tadanao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Funakoshi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001284:Atrophy; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020422:Mononeuropathies / Q000601:surgery*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture; D012678:Sensation Disorders; D012782:Shoulder / Q000294:innervation*