Risk of neurological injury in posterior bone block surgery for recurrent glenohumeral instability: a cadaveric study

Recurrent posterior glenohumeral instability poses a challenge for treatment. Bone block procedures have been advocated in cases where a bony defect is present. However, these techniques are not free of complications due to the proximity of neurovascular structures. The aim of this study is to measure the distance to the axillary and suprascapular nerves at the different steps of the procedure.

Ten frozen human cadavers were used. The bone graft was prepared and placed on the posterior aspect of the glenoid, where it was fixed with two K-wires in different positions: parallel to the articular surface and with 20° of medial angulation. The distance from the entry and exit points of the K-wires to the axillary and suprascapular nerves was measured.

At the exit point, mean distance from the superior K-wire to the axillary nerve was 4.4 mm in the neutral position and 14.4 mm when medially angulated (p = 0.01) and 2.6 mm and 11.5 mm, respectively, for the inferior K-wire (p < 0.01). No differences were found at the entry point (p = 0.7 and p = 0.3). For the suprascapular nerve, mean distance to the entry point of the superior K-wire was significantly greater when it was inserted with 20° of medial angulation than when placed in neutral position (p = 0.04). No differences were found for the inferior K-wire (p = 0.35).

Posterior bone block surgery should be performed taking into consideration the possibility of axillary nerve injury anteriorly at the exit point of the K-wires. Wire and screw insertion parallel to the glenoid articular surface may reduce the risk, while increased wire or screw medial angulation with respect to the glenoid surface may heighten risk.

Not applicable (cadaveric study).