LimaCorporate (Italy)

Shoulder pathologies ‐ esp. degenerative disorders ‐ are of the most common orthopaedic diseases nowadays. The outcome of operative treatment such as Anatomic Total and Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty is highly dependent on the individual anatomical situation. Surgical placement of the superior glenoid baseplate screw e.g. might endanger the suprascapular nerve, which could cause postoperative chronic pain and weakness. Surprisingly, only very few studies investigated e.g. the distance between the screw entry point and the scapular notch. The aim of this study is thus to increase the morphological knowledge on the osseous and neurological structures of this clinically important region. In a cadaver dissection study of 17 cadavers from the institutional body donation programme (8 female, 9 male, average age 78 yrs, range 63‐99 yrs) we documented a.o. the size and inclination angle of the glenoid, the distance from the superior screw entry point to the scapular notch both from outside and through the screw canal and also the distance from the supraglenoid tubercle to the scapular notch. Furthermore, the degree of primary and secondary osteoarthritis (cuff arthropathy) were documented as present in this old age sample and, also, the relationship of the suprascapular nerve to the adjacent tissue including the suprascapular vessels was documented. Data are discussed in light of recommendations for safe screw placement and secure distance to the nerve. Furthermore, the general impact of such morphological studies on clinical and microevolutionary research issues will be highlighted.Grant Funding Source: Supported by Mäxi Foundation Switzerland