Mustafa ÜRGÜDEN1, B Özgür DÖNMEZ2, H Hakan BİLBAŞAR1, Hakan ÖZDEMİR1, Nurettin OĞUZ2

1Akdeniz Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Anabilim Dalı, Antalya
2Akdeniz Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Anatomi Anabilim Dalı

Keywords: Type of superior notch of scapula, Iatrogenic nerve lesion, Mobilization of the supraspinatus.

Abstract

Introduction: To assess whether there is any effect of suprascapular notch type in iatrogenic suprascapular nerve lesions in surgical interventions. Material and
Method: A hundred dry scapulas and 20 scapulas of 11 cadavera were classified according to Rengachary. The point of measurement was determined medially as the deepest point of suprascapular notch and laterally as supraglenoid tubercle in dry scapulas and anchor of biceps in cadavera.
Results: It was found that in the measurements made in dry scapulas, despite not being statistically significant, notch type-IV scapula had the lowest average (2.35 cm) when compared to other scapula types. It was found in the cadavera study that the measurements of one type-IV and one type V scapulas were lower than the other types. When all notch types were considered, the confidence limit in the release of suprascapular muscle from lateral to the fossa was determined as 2.1 cm.
Discussion: Determination of the notch type in the rotator cuff tears-especially in massive and retracted tears-where supraspinatus has to be released from the fossa, may be helpful in avoiding iatrogenic nerve lesion.