Evaluation of the morphology of the suprascapular notch region is important from a clinical point of view because it is the most common site of suprascapular nerve compression and injury. A group of 120 patients underwent ultrasound examination of the suprascapular notch region according to our original four-stage "step-by-step" protocol. The notches were classified based on their morphology and measurements like maximal depth (MD) and superior transverse diameter (STD) as follows: type I-MD is longer than STD, type II-MD and STD are equal, type III-STD is longer than MD, and in type IV/V-notches only the bony margin was visualized without depression. Both suprascapular notches were fully visualized in 115 of 120 patients. The type III suprascapular notch was the most prevalent (64.2%), followed by type IV/V (18.7%), type I (11.1%), and type II (6.0%). Color Doppler analysis allowed the suprascapular artery to be recognized in all visualized notches. The suprascapular vein was visible in 176 notches and the suprascapular nerve in 150. Notches containing both suprascapular nerve and vein were significantly wider and shallower than average. As the suprascapular artery is the most easily recognised structure in the area, it may serve as a useful landmark of the suprascapular notch.

Department of Anatomy 2nd Faculty of Medicine Charles University U Nemocnice 3 128 00 Praha 2 Czech Republic

Department of Angiology Interfaculty Chair of Anatomy and Histology Medical University of Łódź Łódź Poland

Department of Normal and Clinical Anatomy Interfaculty Chair of Anatomy and Histology Medical University of Łódź Łódź Poland

Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology Ministry of the Interior Hospital Północna Str 42 91 245 Łódź Poland

Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging Medical University of Łódź Kopcińskiego 22 90 153 Łódź Poland

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