Editorial Commentary: To Cyst or Not to Cyst: Shoulder SLAP Lesions With Concomitant Spinoglenoid Notch Ganglion Cysts

Clinical Outcomes Following Arthroscopic Decompression and Repair versus Repair Alone in Patients with a Concomitant Spinoglenoid Cyst and SLAP Lesion: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: Patients with a superior-labrum-from-anterior-to-posterior (SLAP) tear associated with a spinoglenoid ganglion cyst have undergone various procedures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical outcomes following arthroscopic treatment in patients with a concomitant spinoglenoid ganglion cyst and SLAP lesion. (2) Methods: This study followed PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) guidelines, utilizing the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases. The keywords included shoulder, SLAP, labral tear, spinoglenoid notch, paralabral cyst, arthroscopy, and treatment. (3) Results: A total of 14 articles (206 patients) were included. Repair alone was administered in 114 patients (Group R), and 92 patients underwent additional cyst decompression (Group RD). Both groups showed excellent and similar clinical scores. The rate of the complete resorption of the cyst was 95.5% in Group RD, and 92.2% in Group R. The complication rate was 3.5% in Group RD, and 11.4% in Group R. The reoperation rate was 0% in Group RD, and 5.3% in Group R. (4) Conclusion: Reliable clinical outcomes without serious complications were obtained from the use of both procedures. The decompression of the cyst is a safe method that will alleviate pressure on the suprascapular nerve.

Editorial Commentary: Suprascapular Nerve Decompression Can Be Effective, But Should You Have the Nerve to Do It?

Isolated suprascapular neuropathy that requires surgical decompression is rare. Arthroscopic suprascapular nerve decompression is an effective treatment for correctly indicated patients, but identifying which patients would benefit from decompression is challenging. While good outcomes and low complication rates after arthroscopic suprascapular nerve decompression have been reported by expert surgeons, this procedure has potential for neurovascular injury in inexperienced hands. Given the rarity of the condition, the difficulty with accurate diagnosis, and the potential risks from surgical intervention, we believe that these patients are best treated in a tertiary referral practice.