Feasibility of arthroscopic decompression of the axillary nerve in the quadrilateral space: Cadaver study

Axillary nerve compression is a rare, but disabling condition. The three main causes are quadrilateral space syndrome among young athletes, compression due to an inferior glenohumeral osteophyte in early osteoarthritis and isolated teres minor atrophy secondary to triceps hypertrophy. The diagnosis is clinical, but may be reinforced by an electromyogram or corticosteroid injection. The usual surgical treatment is open nerve decompression using a posterior approach. Arthroscopy is a less invasive approach that should be useful in theory.

Arthroscopic decompression of the axillary nerve is safe and less invasive than open techniques.

Arthroscopic nerve decompression was performed as described by PJ Millet and TR Gaskill on 10 shoulders from 6 frozen cadavers. An open posterior approach was then made to verify the effectiveness of the nerve decompression.

The axillary nerve and its branches, the circumflex artery and the triceps were always sufficiently released in the space below the joint capsule. When the joints were subsequently opened by a posterior approach, complete nerve decompression was confirmed in all cases with no iatrogenic lesions.

The good results of this study are encouraging, but should be supplemented with a comparative study in patients of open versus arthroscopic axillary nerve release.

We think this arthroscopic technique is a good option for treating axillary nerve compressions. The complication risk is expected to be low.

IV.