Surgical Treatment of Spinal Synovial Cysts in Elderly Patients: Symptoms, Treatment Course, and Outcome in Patients >75 Years of Age

Outcomes and adverse events for spinal synovial cysts surgical treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Spinal synovial cysts (SSCs) are a rare cause of nerve root and spinal cord compression. Surgical excision of SSCs remains the mainstay of treatment in the presence of unremitting symptoms or neurological deficits, but the choice of the surgical approach remains controversial. The goal of this study was to compare clinical outcomes and adverse events associated with traditional approaches (interlaminar or laminectomy/hemilaminectomy) and minimally invasive approaches (microsurgical tubular approaches or endoscopic approaches) for SSCs.

METHODS

Studies reporting surgical management of SSCs were searched in three online databases (PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science). This meta-analysis was reported following the PRISMA Statement. It was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42021288992). The Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias in Nonrandomised Studies-of Interventions (ROBINS-I) was used to evaluate bias. Extracted research data were statistically analyzed using Stata 16 and SPSS statistics 25.

RESULTS

A total of 22 related relevant studies were included. Meta-analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in dural tear, residual cyst, recurrence, reoperation, and operation time between minimally invasive approaches and traditional approaches (p > 0.05), but minimally invasive approaches had a good functional improvement (p = 0.004). Postoperative length of hospital stays and intraoperative bleeding in traditional approaches were also higher than in minimally invasive approaches (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Based on the available evidence, minimally invasive approaches may be better than traditional approaches in the treatment of SSCs. Minimally invasive approaches had the advantages of improving clinical satisfaction, with a similar complication rate to traditional approaches. Moreover, endoscopic and microsurgical tubular approaches had similar outcomes.

Efficacy of minimally invasive tubular approaches for management of the lumbar spinal synovial cysts: a meta-analysis

The treatment of lumbar spinal synovial cysts (LSCs) which are relatively rare but can cause neurogenic dysfunction and intractable pain has been a controversial topic for many years. Surgical excision of LSCs is the standard treatment for patients in whom conservative treatment options fail. This meta-analysis was undertaken to compare clinical outcomes between minimally invasive approaches using tubular retractors (microscopic vs. endoscopic) and traditional percutaneous approaches for LSCs. Studies reporting surgical management of LSCs were searched in the Cochrane Library, PubMed and Web of Science database. This meta-analysis was reported following the PRISMA Statement, registered in Prospero (CRD42021288992). A total of 1833 patients were included from both the related relevant studies (41 studies, n = 1831) and the present series (n = 2). Meta-analysis of minimally invasive tubular approaches revealed no statistically significant difference in pain improvement, dural tear, residual cyst, recurrence and operation time between minimal groups with traditional groups (p > 0.05). Minimal groups had better Functional improvement of 100% (95% CI 1.00-1.00; p < 0.001, I2 = 75.3%) and less reoperation rates of 0% (95% CI - 0.00-0.00; p = 0.007, I2 = 47.1%). Postoperative length of hospital stay and intraoperative bleeding in minimal groups were also less than traditional groups (p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed endoscopic groups had less operation time (p = 0.004), and there was no significant difference in the rest. For patients with LSCs but without obvious clinical and imaging evidence of vertebral instability, even when preoperative stable grade 1 spondylolisthesis is present, minimally invasive tubular approaches without fusion may provide the best outcome in surgical management.

Resection of Lumbar Spinal Facet Joint Cysts and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: Incidence, Prognostic Parameters, and Outcome in a Single-center Series

STUDY DESIGN

Single-center series.

OBJECTIVE

Intraspinal facet joint cysts can lead to nerve root compression symptoms with severe discomfort and disability. Permanent improvement can be achieved by surgical resection of the cyst. However, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a common problem in resection of facet joint cyst.The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency of CSF leak after resection of a joint cyst and to determine predictive factors.

METHODS

A total of 176 consecutive patients underwent surgery for lumbar spinal facet joint cyst in our institution between 1997 and 2018. Patients with a CSF leak were compared with patients without a CSF leak (control group).

RESULTS

CSF leakage occurred in 14 patients (8.0%) In 2 of the cases (14.3%), the CSF leak was recognized only postoperatively, in 12 cases (85.7%), the CSF leak was detected intraoperatively. Despite intraoperative dura repair, 4 of these 12 patients (33.3%) presented with CSF leakage postoperatively. Altogether 6 patients had postoperative CSF leakage. Compared with patients without CSF leak, there were no differences in preoperative symptoms, surgical technique, complications, or postoperative findings. Adhesion of the cyst to the dura mater was present in all 14 patients with CSF leakage (100%), but only 61.7% of the control group ( P <0.005). All patients in the CSF leak group showed an improvement of their preoperative symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of CSF leakage in resection of spinal facet joint cyst was 8% in the present study. The occurrence of a CSF leakage was independent of clinical factors, level, or side of the cyst, but significantly correlated to dural adhesion of the cyst.Since neither clinical recovery nor recurrence rates do depend on complete removal of the cyst, aggressive resection of dural adherend parts of the cyst wall should be avoided to prevent CSF leakage.