A spinoglenoid cyst is a ganglion cyst that compresses the suprascapular nerve in the spinoglenoid notch. On failure of the conservative treatment, surgical decompression is the treatment of choice. The arthroscopic method helps to decompress the cyst intraarticularly through the labral tear and also allows repair of the labral tear. Rinju Krishnan et al conducted a study to determine the functional outcome of arthroscopic Spinoglenoid Cyst Decompression with labral repair. It has been published in ‘Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports.’
This study is a case series of eight symptomatic Spinoglenoid cysts with labral tears which were treated with arthroscopic cyst decompression and labral repair over 5 years. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon’s score (ASES), Constant Murley (CM) score, and Visual Analog Score (VAS) were used to assess the patients preoperatively and postoperatively at regular intervals.
The key findings of the study were:
• Out of the eight patients, there were seven males and one female.
Mean age of the study group was 22 years.
• Two patients were athletes who were participating in the overhead sports activity, while another was an electrician who frequently carried out the overhead activity.
• All the patients had good to excellent results.
• There was a significant improvement in the ASES from a mean pre-operative 61.5 to a mean 1-year follow-up of 90.3, while the CM score improved from a mean pre-operative 66.8% to a mean 1-year follow-up of 93.4%.
• The VAS decreased from a mean pre-operative 6.3 to a mean 1-year follow-up of one.
The authors concluded – “Early recognition of spinoglenoid cysts associated with labral tears is essential in patients presenting with unexplained posterior shoulder pain and weakness. Arthroscopic cyst decompression combined with labral repair provides a minimally invasive, safe, and effective solution that relieves nerve compression, prevents recurrence, and yields excellent functional recovery.”
Further reading:
Arthroscopic Spinoglenoid Cyst Decompression and Labral Repair -Case Series
Rinju Krishnan et al
Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports 2025 December:15(12): Page 288-294
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