Quadrilateral Space Syndrome
FUNCTIONAL REHABILITATION R. Barry Dale, PhD, PT, ATC, CSCS, Report Editor Quadrilateral Space Syndrome Robert C. Manske, PT, DPT, MEd, SCS, ATC, CSCS, Afton Sumler, ATC, and Jodi Runge, ATC • Wichita State University QUADRILATERAL space syndrome (QSS) is a History uncommon condition that has been reported to affect athletes who perform overhead QSS has been reported to have a spontaneous movement patterns, such as baseball play- onset during sport participation or as a result 1,2,7-15 ers,1-4 tennis players,5 and volleyball players.6 of acute trauma. Misdiagnosis may Cahill and Palmer7 described it as a rare be responsible for an underestimate of the 16 7 condition that involves compression of the prevalence of QSS. Cahill described four posterior humeral cir- cardinal features of QSS: (a) poorly localized cumflex artery (PHCA) shoulder pain, (b) nondermatomal distribu- Key PointsPoints and the axillary nerve tion of paresthesia, (c) discrete point ten- within the quadrilat- derness in the quadrilateral space, and (d) a Qaudrilateral space syndrome is an uncom- eral space, which pro- positive arteriogram finding with the affected mon condition. duces pain over the shoulder in a position of abduction and exter- posterior aspect of nal rotation. A high index of suspicion should Symptoms are caused by entrapment of the shoulder that may be maintained for this unusual diagnosis the axillary nerve within the quadrilateral in the overhead athlete who presents with space. radiate into the arm and forearm with a recalcitrant posterior shoulder pain. Conservative treatment should be non-dermatomal dis- attempted prior to surgical intervention. tribution.
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