Arthroscopic Long Thoracic Nerve Decompression for Painful Scapulothoracic Abnormal Motion: Technique and Indications

Patients with abnormal motion and winged scapula can present with debilitating pain and shoulder dysfunction. Multiple etiologies of scapulothoracic abnormal motion have been described, including muscle paralysis secondary to nerve injury or compression and discordant muscle activation secondary to...

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Main Authors: Ryan Lohre, M.D., Abdulaziz F. Ahmed, M.D., Bassem Elhassan, M.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Arthroscopy Techniques
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212628724005462
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author Ryan Lohre, M.D.
Abdulaziz F. Ahmed, M.D.
Bassem Elhassan, M.D.
author_facet Ryan Lohre, M.D.
Abdulaziz F. Ahmed, M.D.
Bassem Elhassan, M.D.
author_sort Ryan Lohre, M.D.
collection DOAJ
description Patients with abnormal motion and winged scapula can present with debilitating pain and shoulder dysfunction. Multiple etiologies of scapulothoracic abnormal motion have been described, including muscle paralysis secondary to nerve injury or compression and discordant muscle activation secondary to pectoralis minor hyperactivity. In patients with intact serratus anterior musculature and clinical evidence of pain along the serratus anterior and long thoracic nerve (LTN) distribution, surgical release of the LTN is indicated. Previous publications have outlined both supraclavicular, thoracic, and combined open surgical approaches with varying results. This Technical Note provides an alternative, all-arthroscopic approach to thoracic decompression of the LTN.
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spelling doaj-art-0e64f67dc99f414d8ef0e01d66aae6b52025-08-20T02:18:51ZengElsevierArthroscopy Techniques2212-62872025-04-0114410337810.1016/j.eats.2024.103378Arthroscopic Long Thoracic Nerve Decompression for Painful Scapulothoracic Abnormal Motion: Technique and IndicationsRyan Lohre, M.D.0Abdulaziz F. Ahmed, M.D.1Bassem Elhassan, M.D.2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, MGH Scapula Program, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.; Address correspondence to Ryan Lohre, M.D., 55 Fruit St., Yawkey Building Suite 3G, Boston, MA 02114, U.S.A.Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, MGH Scapula Program, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.; Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, U.S.A.Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, MGH Scapula Program, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.Patients with abnormal motion and winged scapula can present with debilitating pain and shoulder dysfunction. Multiple etiologies of scapulothoracic abnormal motion have been described, including muscle paralysis secondary to nerve injury or compression and discordant muscle activation secondary to pectoralis minor hyperactivity. In patients with intact serratus anterior musculature and clinical evidence of pain along the serratus anterior and long thoracic nerve (LTN) distribution, surgical release of the LTN is indicated. Previous publications have outlined both supraclavicular, thoracic, and combined open surgical approaches with varying results. This Technical Note provides an alternative, all-arthroscopic approach to thoracic decompression of the LTN.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212628724005462
spellingShingle Ryan Lohre, M.D.
Abdulaziz F. Ahmed, M.D.
Bassem Elhassan, M.D.
Arthroscopic Long Thoracic Nerve Decompression for Painful Scapulothoracic Abnormal Motion: Technique and Indications
Arthroscopy Techniques
title Arthroscopic Long Thoracic Nerve Decompression for Painful Scapulothoracic Abnormal Motion: Technique and Indications
title_full Arthroscopic Long Thoracic Nerve Decompression for Painful Scapulothoracic Abnormal Motion: Technique and Indications
title_fullStr Arthroscopic Long Thoracic Nerve Decompression for Painful Scapulothoracic Abnormal Motion: Technique and Indications
title_full_unstemmed Arthroscopic Long Thoracic Nerve Decompression for Painful Scapulothoracic Abnormal Motion: Technique and Indications
title_short Arthroscopic Long Thoracic Nerve Decompression for Painful Scapulothoracic Abnormal Motion: Technique and Indications
title_sort arthroscopic long thoracic nerve decompression for painful scapulothoracic abnormal motion technique and indications
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212628724005462
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