Article

OBJECTIVE: To report our diagnostic and treatment experiences, and patient
outcomes, in patients with suprascapular neuropathy (SSN). DESIGN: Retrospective
cohort study. SETTING: A tertiary medical center. PATIENTS: 65 patients with
electromyographically (EMG)-confirmed SSN. METHODS:
A 5-year retrospective chart
review of patients with EMG-confirmed SSN. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Descriptive
statistics were used to summarize demographics, risk factors, causes, EMG
findings, diagnostic evaluation, treatments, and self-reported outcomes. Exact
Mantel-Haenszel chi(2) tests and Fisher exact tests were used to assess
correlation between these measures. RESULTS: The 3 most common causes of SSN were
trauma (32 patients), an inflammatory process (ie, brachial neuritis) (14), and
the presence of a cyst (13). Remaining cases were related to a rotator cuff tear
or were due to overuse. No cases were attributed to notch abnormalities. At the
time of follow-up (a mean of 50 months [range, 15-84 months] after EMG), 50% of
subjects returned to activity with no restrictions (excellent outcome) and 40%
returned to activity with restrictions (good outcome), regardless of cause and
treatment. EMG findings, specifically the presence/absence of fibrillation
potentials, did not predict recovery. CONCLUSIONS: SSN should be considered in
patients with shoulder pain and weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging and
ultrasound help to exclude a structural process. Identifying a structural cause,
specifically a cyst or rotator cuff tear, is important because it appears that
these patients have improved recovery with return to normal activities when
treated surgically. Although EMG data did not have prognostic value in this
study, the data were limited and further study is warranted. Regardless of cause
or treatment, most patients with SSN returned to activities in some capacity.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS