Posterior Shoulder Pain and Arthroscopic Decompression of the Suprascapular Nerve at the Spinoglenoid Notch

Suprascapular nerve compression is a disease entity not easily recognized or well understood by many surgeons. Posterior shoulder pain, muscle weakness, and muscle atrophy can result from compression of the nerve at either the transverse scapular ligament or the spinoglenoid ligament in many young adults. Compression at the spinoglenoid ligament, although thought to be rare, is often the result of repetitive overhead activities in either athletes or laborers and results in weakness and atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle. More recently, compression at this site occurs in patients with a massive rotator cuff tear. While this diagnosis is complex and other diagnoses must be considered and ruled out, early intervention is important to successfully manage this patient and return them to their desired activities to avoid permanent muscle atrophy. This paper will discuss the detailed physical examination, adjunct diagnostic procedures, and appropriate arthroscopic surgical treatment of this disease entity to provide the expected outcome with great satisfaction.