Electrodiagnostic Evidence of Suprascapular Nerve Recovery after Decompression.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose was to investigate if surgical arthroscopic decompression or ultrasound-guided aspiration of a paralabral cyst would result in suprascapular nerve recovery from axonal regeneration based on electrodiagnostic testing.

METHODS: Nine patients with pre-operative electromyography evidence of suprascapular neuropathy due to paralabral cysts at the suprascapular or spinoglenoid notch were prospectively studied. Eight patients underwent arthroscopic surgical decompression, and one patient underwent ultrasound-guided aspiration. Postoperative electromyography was performed in all patients to evaluate nerve regeneration.

RESULTS: Three patients (33%) had cysts at the suprascapular notch, whereas 6 patients (67%) had cysts at the spinoglenoid notch. All patients showed complete electrophysiologic recovery after decompression.

DISCUSSION: Decompression of paralabral cysts at the suprascapular or spinoglenoid notch resulted in postoperative electromyography evidence of nerve recovery. Long-term studies with a larger number of patients are needed to elucidate time to recovery. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.