| Summary: | Background: The anatomical variations at the suprascapular region have great impact on the suprascapular nerve and its entrapment syndrome. Aim: This study aimed to describe the morphological types and morphometric parameters of the superior transverse scapular ligament (STSL) and its relation to suprascapular neurovascular triad. Material & methods: The suprascapular region was dissected in 60 (40 male & 20 female) cadaveric shoulders. The morphological variants, length, widths, thickness of STSL, and its relation to suprascapular triad were evaluated. Results: Five morphological types of STSL were identified. The common variant was the fan-shaped followed by the band-shaped and the triangular-shaped, while the ossified and bifid forms revealed lower incidence rates with no side or sex significant difference. Morphometrically, the length of STSL measured 16.4 ± 2.4 mm, medial width was 13.3 ± 3 mm and its lateral width measured 5.4 ± 1.3 mm with no side significant difference (p > 0.05). Moreover, its length measured 16.6 ± 2.6 mm in male and 15.8 ± 1.9 mm in female, its medial width was 13.7 ± 2.2 mm in male and 12.2 ± 2 in female, and its lateral width measured 5.6 ± 1.3 in male and 5.1 ± 1.1 mm in female specimens. The relation between the suprascapular triad and STSL showed three main variants: where the blood vessels pass above the STSL (56.7 %), followed by the passage of the artery above and the vein below STSL (23.3 %), and the blood vessels below STSL (11.7 %). Conclusion: Knowledge the morphological variants and morphometric measurements of STSL and its relation to the suprascapular triad are important during surgical and arthroscopic procedures of the shoulder region.
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