Tsitsopoulos PP, Marklund N, Salci K, Holtz A, Mani M. Management of symptomatic sacral perineural cysts with microsurgery and a vascularized fasciocutaneous flap.
JOURNAL OF SPINE SURGERY 2018;
4:602-609. [PMID:
30547125 DOI:
10.21037/jss.2018.07.02]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Background
The optimal treatment of symptomatic perineural (Tarlov) cysts is controversial. Numerous surgical techniques have been proposed with conflicting results. A series of Tarlov cysts treated with a novel surgical approach is presented.
Methods
Patients with surgically treated symptomatic perineural cysts during 2013-2016 were included. The main indications for surgery were persistent radicular symptoms, pelvic pain, urinary and/ or bowel disturbances. At surgery, the cyst was opened and fenestrated. The cyst wall was then closed with packing, fibrin glue and a pedicled vascularized fasciocutaneous flap rotated into the area for obliteration of the dead space. Patients were followed-up with clinical visits and repeat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
Results
Seven consecutive patients were included. The mean age was 50.3 years (range, 25-80 years) and the mean duration of symptoms was 49.3 months (range, 3-130 months). With one exception, all patients had urine and/or bowel problems (incontinence) preoperatively. A lumbar drain was inserted in five patients. The mean follow-up period was 15.4 months. Symptoms improved in 4/7 patients, in two cases no clinical difference was noted while one patient deteriorated. In two cases, a spinal cord stimulator was eventually implanted. In all seven cases, a significantly decreased cyst size was noted on MRI.
Conclusions
Cyst fenestration and the use of a vascularized fasciocutaneous flap successfully obliterated all cysts, with satisfactory clinical efficacy. Larger and comparative studies are warranted to clarify the long-term effects of this surgical technique in patients with symptomatic Tarlov cysts.
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