Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33602212›Full record

ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2021

Comparison of clinical outcome of decompression of suprascapular nerve at spinoglenoid notch for patients with posterosuperior massive rotator cuff tears and suprascapular neuropathy.

Pu Yang, Chen Wang, Dongfang Zhang, Yi Zhang, Tengbo Yu, Chao Qi

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 22% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Revision rates and progression to shoulder arthroplasty after arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears.Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Review
  5. Variations in the Course and Diameter of the Suprascapular Nerve: Anatomical Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Pu YangOrthopaedic Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, NO.16 Jiangsu road, Qingdao, 266100, China.
Chen WangOrthopaedic Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, NO.16 Jiangsu road, Qingdao, 266100, China.
Dongfang ZhangOrthopaedic Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, NO.16 Jiangsu road, Qingdao, 266100, China.
Yi ZhangOrthopaedic Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, NO.16 Jiangsu road, Qingdao, 266100, China.
Tengbo YuOrthopaedic Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, NO.16 Jiangsu road, Qingdao, 266100, China.
Chao QiOrthopaedic Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, NO.16 Jiangsu road, Qingdao, 266100, China. qichao2002@126.com.
Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University · CNQingdao University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeIn the present study, we aimed to determine whether decompression of suprascapular nerve (SSN) at the spinoglenoid notch could lead to a better functional outcome for the patients who underwent repairment of rotator cuff due to posterosupeior massive rotator cuff tear (MRCT) and suprascapular neuropathy.

methodsA total of 20 patients with posterosuperior MRCT and suprascapular neuropathy were analyzed in the present work. The preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed rotator cuff tear in supraspinatus and infraspinatus. All patients underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Patients were divided into two groups (group A: non-releasing, group B: releasing) according to whether the SSN at the spinoglenoid notch was decompressed. The modified University of California at Los Angeles shoulder rating scale (UCLA) and visual analog scale (VAS) questionnaire were adopted to assess the function of the affected shoulder preoperatively and 12 months after the operation. Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS) were used to evaluate the nerve condition. Patients underwent MRI and EMG/NCS at 6 months after operation and last follow-up.

resultsAll patients were satisfied with the treatment. MRI showed that it was well-healed in 19 patients at 6 months after the operation. However, the fatty infiltration of supraspinatus and infraspinatus was not reversed. Only one patient in the non-releasing group showed the retear. The retear rate of group A and group B were 30% (3/10) and 20% (2/10) respectively at 12 months after the operation. One patient undergoing SSN decompression complained of discomfort in the infraspinatus area. His follow-up EMG after 6 months showed fibrillation potentials (1+) and positive sharp waves (1+) in the infraspinatus. The other patients' EMG results showed no abnormality. The postoperative UCLA and VAS scores were improved in both groups, and there was no significant difference in the follow-up outcomes between the two groups.

conclusionsPatients with postersuperior MRCT and suprascapular neuropathy, decompression of suprascapular nerve at spinoglenoid notch didn't lead to a better functional outcome with the repairment of rotator cuff. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair could reverse the suprascapular neuropathy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Indexed as

Rotator CuffRotator Cuff InjuriesArthroscopyDecompressionHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingShoulderTreatment OutcomeArthroscopyDecompressionInfraspinatusMassive rotator cuff tearSpinoglenoid notchSuprascapular nerve

Identifiers

PMID33602212
PMCPMC7890909
OpenAlexW3132912227

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.