This 1999 narrative review by Romeo et al. examines suprascapular neuropathy as an underrecognized cause of shoulder pain and weakness, covering nerve anatomy, compression mechanisms at the suprascapular and spinoglenoid notches, diagnostic workup, and both nonoperative and surgical treatment options.
When a patient presents with posterior shoulder pain, infraspinatus atrophy, and weak external rotation — especially an overhead athlete — put suprascapular neuropathy on the differential early and get an MRI before anchoring to a rotator cuff diagnosis.
If you find a spinoglenoid cyst, plan for concurrent labral evaluation: 89% have associated labral tears, and addressing only the cyst risks recurrence and incomplete recovery.
This 1999 narrative review by Romeo et al. examines suprascapular neuropathy as an underrecognized cause of shoulder pain and weakness, covering nerve anatomy, compression mechanisms at the suprascapular and spinoglenoid notches, diagnostic workup, and both nonoperative and surgical treatment options.
When a patient presents with posterior shoulder pain, infraspinatus atrophy, and weak external rotation — especially an overhead athlete — put suprascapular neuropathy on the differential early and get an MRI before anchoring to a rotator cuff diagnosis.
If you find a spinoglenoid cyst, plan for concurrent labral evaluation: 89% have associated labral tears, and addressing only the cyst risks recurrence and incomplete recovery.