Factors Associated With Recurrent Back Pain and Cyst Recurrence After Surgical Resection of One Hundred Ninety-Five Spinal Synovial Cysts.

Ali Bydon, MD

Department of Neurosurgery
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD

Intraspinal juxtafacet cysts are relatively rare growths that present in patients with various painful conditions, including low back pain, radiculopathy, and neurogenic claudication, among others. These cysts can be synovial, occurring in the context of joints lined with synovial tissue (eg, spinal facet joints), or they can be ganglionic, occurring adjacent to but separate from the joints. Most evidence suggests that these lesions are a manifestation rather than a cause of spinal instability. Despite histological differences, treatment strategies for synovial and ganglion cysts are identical and commonly include surgical resection. Here, Dr. Bydon discusses his study comparing outcomes from various surgical approaches to excise symptomatic intraspinal juxtafacet cysts.

References

Xu R, McGirt MJ, Parker SL, et al. Factors associated with recurrent back pain and cyst recurrence after surgical resection of one hundred ninety-five spinal synovial cysts. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2010 [Epub ahead of print]
Epstein N. Lumbar synovial cysts: a review of diagnosis, surgical management, and outcome assessment. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2004;17:321-325.
Shah RV, Lutz GE. Lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts: conservative management and review of the world's literature. Spine J. 2003;3:479-488.

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