Quadrilateral space syndrome

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD's weight loss doctor NYC
Philadelphia GLP-1 weight loss and GLP-1 clinic NYC

Quadrilateral space syndrome
Illustration of shoulder muscles
Synonyms	Quadrangular space syndrome
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	Orthopedics, Sports medicine
Symptoms	Shoulder pain, paresthesia in the posterior upper arm
Complications	Muscle atrophy
Onset	Typically young adults
Duration	Can be chronic
Types	N/A
Causes	Compression of the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery
Risks	Repetitive overhead activities, trauma
Diagnosis	Physical examination, MRI, ultrasound
Differential diagnosis	Rotator cuff tear, cervical radiculopathy, thoracic outlet syndrome
Prevention	Avoidance of repetitive overhead activities
Treatment	Physical therapy, surgery
Medication	NSAIDs
Prognosis	Generally good with treatment
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Quadrilateral Space Syndrome is a rare condition that affects the nervous system and musculoskeletal system. It is characterized by pain, numbness, and muscle weakness in the shoulder and arm due to compression of the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery.

Causes

The syndrome is caused by compression of the axillary nerve and the posterior circumflex humeral artery, which pass through the quadrilateral space in the shoulder. This compression can be due to various factors such as anatomical abnormalities, muscle hypertrophy, fibrous bands, cysts, tumors, or trauma.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of Quadrilateral Space Syndrome include:

• Pain in the shoulder and arm
• Numbness and tingling in the affected area
• Muscle weakness, especially in the deltoid muscle
• Difficulty in performing overhead activities

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Quadrilateral Space Syndrome is often challenging due to its rarity and non-specific symptoms. It is usually based on the patient's medical history, physical examination, and imaging studies such as MRI or CT scan. Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) may also be used.

Treatment

Treatment options for Quadrilateral Space Syndrome include physical therapy, pain management, and in severe cases, surgery. The goal of treatment is to relieve the compression on the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery, and to restore normal function of the shoulder and arm.

See Also

• Axillary nerve
• Posterior circumflex humeral artery
• Shoulder pain
• Muscle weakness