Suprascapular Nerve Palsy
Original Editor - Arnold Fredrick D'Souza
Top Contributors - Arnold Fredrick D'Souza, Kim Jackson, Joseph Zahn and Naomi O'Reilly
Introduction[edit | edit source]
The suprascapular nerve is a mixed nerve of the upper limb. Suprascapular nerve injury is experiencing an increase in clinical significance due to its role in shoulder pain and upper limb weakness.[1]
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The suprascapular nerve branches out from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus. Its nerve roots are C5 and C6. Sporadically, it may have roots from C4 as well. From the posterior triangle of the neck, the nerve goes over the upper part of the scapula, then downward and laterally, parallel to the omohyoid muscle belly. It then passes below the suprascapular ligament and into the supraspinatus fossa where it innervates supraspinatus and continues while curving around the spinous process of the scapula, through the spinoglenoid notch and then into the infraspinatus fossa where it innervates infraspinatus.[1]
Pathology[edit | edit source]
Compression neuropathy is usually the contributing factor to SSN palsy.
