Outcomes of Arthroscopic Decompression of Spinoglenoid Cysts Through a Subacromial Approach

To describe a spinoglenoid cyst decompression technique through a subacromial approach and its clinical outcomes after 2 years of follow-up.

From March 2008 to October 2013, 26 patients underwent arthroscopic decompression of a spinoglenoid ganglion cyst with and/or without superior labral anterior to posterior repair, and patients who were available for minimum of 2 years of follow-up were included. For functional assessments, the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, subjective shoulder value (SSV), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon (ASES) score, and shoulder active range of motion were used to compare preoperative and postoperative follow-up values. Follow-up magnetic resonance arthrography was taken at 6 months postoperatively to evaluate incomplete decompression or recurrence of the cyst.

In total, 21 patients were included in this study. At the 2-year follow-up, the VAS, SSV, ASES, and UCLA shoulder scores significantly improved compared with preoperative values (P < .001): VAS improved from 3.5 to 0.7 (P < .001); SSV improved from 62.9 to 93.1 (P < .001); ASES score improved from 64.3 to 94.4 (P < .001); UCLA shoulder score improved from 21.6 to 32.9 (P < .001). Also, active forward flexion improved from 153° to 158° (P = .014), and external rotation improved from 55° to 57° (P = .042) significantly, with the exception of internal rotation. The follow-up magnetic resonance arthrography was performed in 18 patients (86%), and there was no recurrence of the spinoglenoid notch cyst.

For spinoglenoid cyst decompression, the subacromial approach was found to be effective, yielding satisfactory clinical outcomes without recurrence.

Level IV, therapeutic case series.