The suprascapular vein: a possible etiology for suprascapular nerve entrapment and risk of complication during procedures around the suprascapular foramen region

Abstract

Introduction: Nerve can be compressed when traveling through any osteo-fibrous tunnel. Any eventual anatomic structure limiting this passage increases the risk of neuropathy. During dissection of the shoulder region we recognized a vein travelling on the inferior border of the suprascapular notch together with the suprascapular nerve. The aim of this work was to evaluate the morphological characteristics of this vein in cadaveric material.

Materials and methods: The suprascapular notch (SSN) region was dissected in 60 cadaveric shoulders. The course, number and diameter of nerve and vessels in the suprascapluar notch region were evaluated. Length, proximal and distal width of the superior transverse scapular ligament were measured. Photographic documentation was taken to evaluate the suprascapular nerve passage area.

Results: The vein identified was named as the suprascapular notch vein. It was present in 58.3% of shoulders. In 11 specimens, it was double. Its mean diameter was 1.7 mm (SD 0.7 mm) and did not correlate with the suprascapular nerve passage area. A suprascapular notch vein co-occurred more often with the anterior coracoscapular ligament (ACSL). In comparison with the SSN without the ACSL, it has a significantly greater diameter (2 mm; SD 0.7 mm vs 1.5 mm; SD 0.6 mm, respectively; P=0.021).

Conclusions: The suprascapular notch vein was a common structure that did not replace the suprascapular vein. Its presence correlated with the occurrence of the ACSL and was independent of body side, STSL type and SSN type.

Type of study: Observational anatomic study.

Keywords: Anatomical variation; Anterior coracoscapular ligament; Superior transverse scapular ligament; Suprascapular nerve entrapment; Suprascapular notch; Suprascapular notch vein.