title: Morphological and radiological study of ossified superior transverse scapular ligament as potential risk factor of suprascapular nerve entrapment.
abstract: The suprascapular notch is covered superiorly by the superior transverse scapular ligament. This region is the most common place of suprascapular nerve entrapment formation. The study was performed on 812 specimens: 86 dry scapulae, 104 formalin-fixed cadaveric shoulders, and 622 computer topography scans of scapulae. In the cases with completely ossified superior transverse scapular ligament, the following measurements were performed: proximal and distal width of the bony bridge, middle transverse and vertical diameter of the suprascapular foramen, and area of the suprascapular foramen. An ossified superior transverse scapular ligament was observed more often in men and in the right scapula. The mean age of the subjects with a completely ossified superior transverse scapular ligament was found to be similar than in those without ossification. The ossified band-shaped type of superior transverse scapular ligament was more common than the fan-shaped type and reduced the space below the ligament to a significantly greater degree. The ossified band-shaped type should be taken into consideration as a potential risk factor in the formation of suprascapular nerve entrapment. It could explain the comparable frequency of neuropathy in various populations throughout the world despite the significant differences between them in occurrence of ossified superior transverse scapular ligament.
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology, Medical University of Łódź, Ulica Narutowicza 60, 90-136 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4146-4998
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polguj
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Orthopaedics and Paediatric Orthopaedic, Medical University of Łódź, Ulica Drewnowska 75, 91-002 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sibiński
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Orthopaedics and Paediatric Orthopaedic, Medical University of Łódź, Ulica Drewnowska 75, 91-002 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grzegorzewski
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Arthroscopy, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Sports Traumatology, Medical University of Łódź, Ulica Żeromskiego 113, 90-549 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waszczykowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological and Isotopic Diagnosis and Therapy, Medical University of Łódź, Ulica Żeromskiego 113, 90-549 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majos
authors.affiliation: Department of Normal and Clinical Anatomy, Medical University of Łódź, Ulica Narutowicza 60, 90-136 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Mirosław
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Topol
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012540:Scapula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed