Schouderpijn door suprascapularisneuropathie

Background

Shoulder complaints are caused by suprascapular neuropathy in 1-2% of patients. This rare condition is characterised by slowly progressing shoulder pain, which has as a consequence restriction of movement and loss of strength. The most frequent causes are tear of the rotator cuff or a space occupying lesion.

Case description

A 30-year-old man presented with slowly arising shoulder pain with subsequent also loss of strength and atrophy of the shoulder. A MRI scan of the shoulder showed a cyst in the glenoid cavity. Using EMG suprascapular neuropathy was diagnosed. The cyst was removed by operation and the patient recovered well.

Conclusion

The diagnosis ‘suprascapular neuropathy’ was made using EMG. Space occupying lesions of the shoulder can be excluded by X-ray and MRI. The treatment is primarily conservative, with physiotherapy and pain management.

Conflict of interest: none declared. Financial support: none declared.