Morphometric study of suprascapular notch and scapular dimensions in Ugandan dry scapulae with specific reference to the incidence of completely ossified superior transverse scapular ligament

Abstract

Background Understanding of suprascapular notch (SSN) anatomy and relationship with scapular dimensions are vital in diagnosis, prevention, and assessment of suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome. The study aimed to assess morphometry of suprascapular notch and scapular dimensions in Ugandan dry scapulae with specific reference to scapulae with completely ossified superior transverse scapular ligaments. Methods This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted on 50 Ugandan dry scapulae. SSN types and prevalence of completely ossified superior transverse scapular ligament among dry scapulae were quantified and compared with previous data. Scapular dimensions were assessed by measuring scapular length (A), scapular width (B), glenoid length (C), and glenoid width (D). One-way ANOVA was used to compare scapular dimensions of scapulae with different SSN types, and Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation coefficient of scapular dimensions amongst groups. Results Superior transverse scapular ligament (STSL) was completely ossified in 8% of cases. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference between scapular dimensions of scapulae with completely ossified STSL compared to scapulae with other SSN types. Scapulae with completely ossified STSL showed strong negative (r = − 0.89137, r = − 0.877) correlations for its A, B respectively compared against D, this finding was not true to scapulae of other SSN types. Also, there were strong positive or negative (r > 0.7, r > − 0.7) correlations: for A, types I and III compared to type VI; for B, types I, III compared to VI; for C, type IV and VI; and for D, type III and VI. Conclusions The prevalence of completely ossified STSL is moderately high in the Ugandan population. Characteristics of the scapula (scapular dimensions) are not ‘vital’ but rather important or relevant for shoulder pathology with specific reference to suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome due to completely ossified superior transverse scapular ligaments. Further correlation analyses of scapular dimensions of different SSN types in different populations are important.

Morphometric study of Suprascapular Notch and its relation to scapular dimensions with assessment of the safe zone in Egyptian dry scapulae

“…No suprascapular notch was found in 9.1% of the studied scapulae with near results in American (1) and Greek (13) populations; while it was 24.2 %,22%, and 21.4% in Polish (14), Kenyan (12), and Italian (16) populations respectively. It was revealed that the incidence of the suprascapular foramen was different in different populations.…”

Morphological types and morphometrical measurements of the suprascapular notch in both dry bones and human cadavers: anatomical study to improve the outcomes of the diagnostic and interventional procedures in the shoulder region

“…Updated morphological and morphometrical data on the suprascapular region help clinicians and surgeons in the diagnosis and treatment of suprascapular neuropathies and decompression of SN [ 13 ]. Suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome was commonly reported in the sport persons who excessively abduct and lateral rotate the upper limbs such as volleyball, tennis players and weight lifting [ 11 ].…”

“…Morphology and morphometric dimensions of SSN in one country could not be used as a standard reference for other locations, where the race, genetic structure, environmental difference and geographic nature were considered as population specific factors responsible for the variations across the populations [ 13 , 15 , 16 ]. The morphological variations of SSN were considered as one of the predisposing factors to SNES, mainly the narrow or V-shaped SSN [ 8 , 13 , 16 ], where excessive rotation and abduction of the upper limbs could induce marked kinking with subsequent irritation, microtrauma, injury and entrapment of SN. Such effect was described as the sling effect of SSN on SN [ 4 ].…”

“…In the present study, the ossified STSL was seen in 5.8%; 4.16% of them was fan-shaped and 1.7% was band-shaped of the dry bones with no side significant difference. In the literature, the incidence of complete ossification of STSL was stated to be between 3 to 12.5% [ 3 ], where its incidence was 12.5% and 6% in Turkish [ 28 ], 7.3% in Germans [ 8 ], 7% in polish [ 3 ], 8% in Indians [ 23 ], and 8% in Uganda [ 13 ]. However, lower incidence rates were reported in other studies; 1.36% in Chinese [ 27 ], 2.47% in Anatolian population [ 33 ], 3% in Egyptian [ 30 ], 3% in Kenyan [ 22 ] and 3.7%–4% in Americans [ 4 , 16 ].…”

Bilateral suprascapular notches are asymmetrically shaped in a third of the Asian population

“…Although variations in the SSN have been reported between individuals [1, 3, 5, 7, 17, 22, 25, 39], the differences between the right and left SSN in the same individual are unknown. Moreover, the clinical features associated with an ossified STSL are unknown other than age, which has been reported as a factor related to ossified STSL [17, 39].…”