Morphology Of Suprascapular Notch And Its Clinical Significance

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The suprascapular notch is present on the superior border of the scapula, just medial to thecoracoid process. The suprascapular ligament bridges the edges of notch, which sometimes get ossified andconvert suprascapular notch into foramen.A narrow notch or excess ossified ligament may have a greaterchance of a nerve impingement in the suprascapular foramen.Materials and methods: This study was conducted on the bones that were obtained from the bone bank ofDepartment of Anatomy. A total of 118 (57 right, 61 left) human scapulae derived from adult (35 male and 17female) skeletons were evaluated for the shape of suprascapular notch ,presence of any ossification of thesuprascapular ligament and classified according to Rengachary et al into I –VI types.Results: On analysis of morphological variations of suprascapular notch, we found following types of scapulaeType I -22.42 %, Type II -12.98 %, Type III -53.98 %, Type IV -0 %, Type V- 7.08 %, Type VI -3.54%.. Out of all specimens,in three specimen suprascapular ligaments (3.54 %) were found to be completely ossifiedConclusion: The knowledge of morphometric variations of suprascapular notch and ossification of suprascapularligament is very important for clinicians. This knowledge is very important in sports medicine as well as fororthopaedic surgeons in management of cases of shoulder pain.