Anatomical variation of suprascapular notch amongst the dissected cadavers in anatomy department, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria

• Anas I. Yahaya ^[1] ; Ibrahim A. Atiku ^[2]
  1. [1] Bayero University Kano

     Bayero University Kano

     Shahuchi, Nigeria

     
  2. [2] Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria
• Localización: European Journal of anatomy, ISSN-e 1136-4890, Vol. 22, Nº. 5, 2018, págs. 424-427
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • The majority of medical students may not have witnessed the absence of the suprascapular notch throughout their dissection period in their medical schools due to its rarity. This absence is very important to the physicians and to the surgeons, as it can cause suprascapular nerve entrapment neuropathy. The aim of this paper is to report the incidence of the total absence of suprascapular notch amongst the past and the presently dissected cadavers in the department. The Anatomy Department had procured averagely 90 human cadavers within thirty years of its establishment. Each formalin-embalmed cadaver was fully dissected by either 200 or 300 level medical or para-medical students. Since the inception of the department, any morphological anomalies of the soft or hard tissues and variations in terms of shape, size, position, or absence were always recorded and published. The human scapulae from those previously dissected cadavers were always examined just like any other bone in the human body to determine any variations or anomalies. Our previous records did not indicate any absence of the suprascapular notch except in one cadaver that was recently dissected and macerated in early 2017.Thus, it can be said that the incidence of absence of the suprascapular notch in Nigeria is 2:180 (90 cadavers: 90 left side, 90 right side scapulae), which is 1.1%. In summary, the absence of the suprascapular notch in our environment is also rare. Notwithstanding, physicians and surgeons should bear in mind the rare absence of the suprascapular notch and its possible involvement in the development of neuropathy due to the entrapment of the suprascapular nerve.