Controlled sheep study using 18 animals across three groups — infraspinatus tenotomy alone, suprascapular neurectomy alone, or both combined — to determine whether tendon injury and nerve injury produce distinct or overlapping patterns of muscle degeneration at 16 weeks, assessed by MRI, CT, histology, and stiffness testing.
When a massive rotator cuff tear shows disproportionate muscle volume loss relative to fatty infiltration on MRI, suspect concurrent suprascapular neuropathy — this model shows nerve injury drives atrophy far more than tendon injury does, while fat content at chronicity reflects tendon disruption regardless of nerve status.
Suprascapular nerve decompression or repair decisions may therefore have significant bearing on preserving muscle bulk even when fatty infiltration grades appear comparable across patients.
Controlled sheep study using 18 animals across three groups — infraspinatus tenotomy alone, suprascapular neurectomy alone, or both combined — to determine whether tendon injury and nerve injury produce distinct or overlapping patterns of muscle degeneration at 16 weeks, assessed by MRI, CT, histology, and stiffness testing.
When a massive rotator cuff tear shows disproportionate muscle volume loss relative to fatty infiltration on MRI, suspect concurrent suprascapular neuropathy — this model shows nerve injury drives atrophy far more than tendon injury does, while fat content at chronicity reflects tendon disruption regardless of nerve status.
Suprascapular nerve decompression or repair decisions may therefore have significant bearing on preserving muscle bulk even when fatty infiltration grades appear comparable across patients.