SLAP tears and paralabral cysts

Paralabral cysts associated with SLAP lesions are frequent findings on MRI of the shoulder. They can be addressed either with direct decompression or by a repair of the SLAP lesion alone. If there is no history of trauma or the patient is older then clinical followup without surgery is the approach of choice. If they produce pain or weakness and are associated with traumatic labral tears then decompression and repair of the SLAP tear is the debridement of choice. Below please see a case that was approached with decompression using percutaneous arthroscopic technique and an 18G spinal needle. Repair of the SLAP lesion is necessary in these cases for the treatment of pain and avoidance of recurrence of the cyst.