Suprascapular nerve entrapment in an arthrodesed shoulder

Description: Suprascapular nerve entrapment is rarely considered as a cause of shoulder pain. We report relief of pain in an arthrodesed shoulder by decompression of the nerve. Case report. An epileptic man in his 20s developed painful post-traumatic arthritis after delayed diagnosis of a posterior dislocation of his left shoulder. Four years later he had a successful arthrodesis and his pain was relieved. One year after the operation he complained of aching pain in the scapular region radiating down the lateral side ofthe arm to the elbow. The pain was constant but aggravated by use of the arm and the patient had been unemployed for two years. Repeated radiographs confirmed that the arthrodesis was sound. The diagnosis of entrapment of the suprascapular nerve was considered, because tenderness was maximal over the suprascapular notch. Injections of local anaesthetic and steroid gave prompt pain relief for one to two weeks
Suprascapular nerve entrapment in an arthrodesed shoulder. Sjöström L, Mjöberg B. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1992 May;74(3):470-1.