The frequency of suprascapular neuropathy in Egyptian patients with chronic shoulder pain, focusing on the impact of manual labor

Abstract

Abstract: CONTEXT: The suprascapular nerve (SSN) arises from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus. It provides sensory branches to the shoulder joints as well as motor branches to the infraspinatus (IS) and supraspinatus (SS) muscles. Although the entrapment of the SSN is uncommon, it occurs at variant locations along its pathway and is manifested by muscle atrophy, weakness, and shoulder pain. This study aimed to determine the frequency of SSN affection in Egyptian patients with chronic nonspecific shoulder pain, with a particular emphasis on the variations in this frequency between manual and nonmanual workers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional analytic study comprised 174 patients with chronic nonspecific shoulder pain. Patients were classified into manual worker and nonmanual worker groups. All participants underwent clinical, radiological, and electrophysiological studies involving motor nerve conduction studies of the SSN and electromyography of SS and IS muscles. RESULTS: Across all study patients, the frequency of SSN affection was 21.8%, whereas it was 35.9% in manual workers, compared to 6.1% in nonmanual workers, as determined by clinical and electrophysiological studies. Significant differences in the clinical and electrophysiological findings of SSN entrapment were found between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Suprascapular neuropathy, although rare, is increasingly recognized as a source of shoulder discomfort and pain resulting from nerve entrapment, especially in those who engage in overhead activities. Therefore, early detection, accurate localization, and effective treatment are crucial to prevent muscle atrophy and wasting.