Suprascapular neuropathy in a collegiate pitcher

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• Repetitive overhead motions in athletes can lead to shoulder injuries.
• Overhead athletes, such as baseball pitchers, are susceptible to specific shoulder pathologies.
• Vague posterior shoulder pain in pitchers may indicate underlying nerve involvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To diagnose and manage suprascapular neuropathy in a collegiate baseball pitcher.
• To highlight the importance of considering nerve entrapment in overhead athletes with shoulder pain.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of conservative management for this condition.

Main Methods:

• Clinical examination including assessment of muscle atrophy and strength.
• Diagnostic imaging: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Electromyographic (EMG) examination.
• Conservative treatment: shoulder rehabilitation and activity modification.

Main Results:

• Physical examination revealed infraspinatus muscle atrophy and weakness.
• MRI was inconclusive, but EMG showed decreased suprascapular nerve conduction.
• Conservative treatment allowed the athlete to return to competition without recurrence of symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Entrapment neuropathy of the suprascapular nerve at the spinoglenoid notch is a plausible diagnosis in overhead athletes with posterior shoulder pain.
• Conservative management can be effective, enabling athletes to return to high-level competition.
• Suprascapular neuropathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of shoulder injuries in athletes performing repetitive overhead activities.