Surgical anatomy of the dorsal scapular nerve

Abstract

Knowledge of the anatomy of the DSN will aid the surgeon who wishes to explore and decompress this structure.

Systematic Ultrasound Identification of the Dorsal Scapular and Long Thoracic Nerves During Interscalene Block

“…Recent cadaver studies have shown similar dual innervation to the dorsal scapular nerve. 9 We also found that 1 subject had contributions to the dorsal scapular nerve directly from C4, something that has been previously described in cadaver dissections. 10 The dorsal scapular nerve has also been described as having contributions from the superficial cervical plexus.…”

Transfer of the rhomboid nerve to the suprascapular nerve: An anatomical feasibility study

“…In most publications, the dorsal scapular nerve is one single nerve. It penetrates the middle scalene muscle, runs on the ventral side of the levator scapulae muscle and continues to the ventral side of rhomboid muscles near the medial border of the scapula [7,8]. The rhomboid nerve, which is a terminal branch of dorsal scapular nerve, splits into small branches along the anterior border of rhomboid muscles [8].…”

“…The dorsal scapular nerve arises from the C5 and C4 roots and occasionally from the C3 and C6 roots [7,8]. In most publications, the dorsal scapular nerve is one single nerve.…”

“…It penetrates the middle scalene muscle, runs on the ventral side of the levator scapulae muscle and continues to the ventral side of rhomboid muscles near the medial border of the scapula [7,8]. The rhomboid nerve, which is a terminal branch of dorsal scapular nerve, splits into small branches along the anterior border of rhomboid muscles [8]. In the technique proposed here, the rhomboid nerve must be divided just before it passes under the top edge of the rhomboid minor muscle in order to obtain the maximum possible diameter and length.…”

Physical Therapy Management in Myofascial Pain Syndrome of Shoulder Complex.

“…Deep DN has been shown to inactivate MTrPs by eliciting local twitch responses (LTR) 23 . Superficial dry needling, which involves placing an acupuncture needle in the skin overlying an MTrPs and electrical twitch-obtaining intramuscular stimulation 21,24 .Based on previous infraspinatus studies, Trp-DN produces segmental anti nociceptive effects. On the one hand, active MTrPs-DN improves shoulder pain and the irritability of the satellite MTrPs in the referred pain area 8,25 .…”