Lumbar synovial cysts: a review of diagnosis, surgical management, and outcome assessment

CT-guided lumbar facet cyst rupture and corticosteroid injection: technique, approach, and procedural and clinical success rates

PURPOSE

To evaluate success rates of computed tomography (CT)-guided lumbar facet synovial cyst (LFC) rupture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all LFC ruptures performed by a single musculoskeletal radiologist with > 10 years of experience, using posterior facet approach and/or direct puncture by ipsilateral/contralateral interlaminar, or transforaminal approach. All patients also received a corticosteroid injection. Rupture rates were calculated, and clinical success rate was determined through medical record review. Pre-procedure magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images and CT procedure images were also reviewed for LFC and facet joint imaging features that may predict rupture.

RESULTS

There were 37 patients, 17 (46%) female and 20 (54%) male, ages 62 ± 12 (range 39-87) years. Thirty-four (92%) of LFC were successfully ruptured, 17 (50%) by facet approach and 17 (50%) by direct cyst puncture. At least one direct puncture approach was possible in 35 (95%) patients. No MRI or CT LFC or facet joint features predicted cyst rupture. Thirty-one (91%) of patients reported immediate pain relief, and 19 (53%) did not have further intervention for LFC-related pain. Sixteen (84%) of these patients remained pain-free for an average follow-up time period of 28 months. Fourteen (39%) of patients required surgical intervention. There were no complications.

CONCLUSION

Our systematic approach to CT-guided LFC rupture is safe and has high technical and clinical success rates similar to prior studies. Since there are no definitive imaging features that determine rupture success, this procedure can almost always be attempted as a first-line treatment for LFC.

Risk of Subsequent Fusion After Isolated Decompression of Lumbar Facet Cysts

INTRODUCTION

Lumbar facet cysts represent a potential source of nerve root compression in elderly patients. Isolated decompression without fusion has proven to be a reasonable treatment option in properly indicated patients. However, the risk of lumbar fusion after isolated decompression and facet cyst excision has yet to be elucidated.

METHODS

The PearlDiver database was reviewed for patients undergoing isolated laminectomy for lumbar facet cyst from January 2015 to December 2018 using Current Procedural Terminology coding. Patients undergoing concomitant fusion or additional decompression, as well as those diagnosed with preexisting spondylolisthesis or without a minimum of 5-year follow-up, were excluded. Rates of subsequent lumbar fusion and potential risk factors for subsequent fusion were identified. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, chi square test, and multivariate logistic regression. Results were considered significant at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

In total, 10,707 patients were ultimately included for analysis. At 5-year follow-up, 727 (6.79%) of patients underwent subsequent lumbar fusion after initial isolated decompression. Of these, 301 (2.81% of total patients, 41.4% of fusion patients) underwent fusion within the first year after decompression. Multivariate analysis identified chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and osteoarthritis as risk factors for requiring subsequent lumbar fusion at 5 years following the index decompression procedure ( P < 0.033; all).

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing isolated decompression for lumbar facet cysts undergo subsequent lumbar fusion at a 5-year rate of 6.79%. Risk factors for subsequent decompression include chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and osteoarthritis. This study will assist spine surgeons in appropriately counseling patients on expected postoperative course and potential risks of isolated decompression.

Perspective: Operate on lumbar synovial cysts and avoid ineffective percutaneous techniques

Background

Lumbar synovial cysts (LSC), best diagnosed on MR studies, may cause symptoms/signs ranging from unilateral radiculopathy to cauda equina compressive syndromes. Attempts at percutaneous treatment of LSC typically fail. Rather, greater safety/efficacy is associated with direct surgical resection with/without fusion.

Methods

Treatment of LSC with percutaneous techniques, including cyst aspiration/perforation, injection (i.e., with/without steroids, saline/other), dilatation, and/or disruption/bursting, classically fail. This is because LSCs' tough, thickened, and adherent fibrous capsules cause extensive thecal sac/nerve root compression, and contain minimal central "fluid" (i.e., "crank-case" and non-aspirable). Multiple percutaneous attempts at decompression, therefore, typically cause several needle puncture sites risking dural tears (DT)/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks, direct root injuries, failure to decompress the thecal sac/nerve roots, infections, hematomas, and over the longer-term, adhesive arachnoiditis.

Results

Alternatively, many studies document the success of direct or even partial resection of LSC (i.e., partial removal with marked cyst/dural adhesions with shrinking down the remnant of capsular tissue). Surgical decompressions of LSC, ranging from focal laminotomies to laminectomies, may or may not warrant additional fusions.

Conclusions

Symptomatic LSC are best managed with direct or even partial operative resection/decompression with/without fusion. The use of varying percutaneous techniques classically fails, and increases multiple perioperative risks.

Decompression with or without Fusion for Lumbar Synovial Cysts—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The management of symptomatic lumbar synovial cysts (LSC) is still a matter of debate. Previous systematic reviews did not stratify data according to different treatment techniques or incompletely reported comparative data on patients treated with lumbar posterior decompression (LPD) and lumbar decompression and fusion (LDF). The aim of our study was to compare LPD and LDF via a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing literature. The design of this study was in accordance with the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review questions were as follows: among patients suffering from symptomatic lumbar synovial cysts (population) and treated with either posterior lumbar decompression or posterior decompression with fusion (intervention), who gets the best results (outcome), in terms of cyst recurrence, reoperation rates, and improvement of postoperative symptoms (comparison)? The search of the literature yielded a total of 1218 results. Duplicate records were then removed (n = 589). A total of 598 articles were screened, and 587 records were excluded via title and abstract screening; 11 studies were found to be relevant to our research question and were assessed for eligibility. Upon full-text review, 5 were excluded because they failed to report any parameter separately for both LPD and LDF. Finally, 6 studies for a total of 657 patients meeting the criteria stated above were included in the present investigation. Our analysis showed that LDF is associated with better results in terms of lower postoperative back pain and cyst recurrence compared with LPD. No differences were found in reoperation rates and complication rates between the two techniques. The impact of minimally invasive decompression techniques on the different outcomes in LSC should be assessed in the future and compared with instrumentation techniques.

High Rate of Revision Surgery After Limited Decompression of Lumbar Facet Cysts

INTRODUCTION

The surgical treatment of lumbar facet cysts has long been debated. Some surgeons elect for limited decompression of such cysts while other surgeons elect for primary decompression and fusion over concerns for recurrence and instability. Previous studies have suggested the rate of revision surgery after facet cyst excision to be as low as 1%, whereas others have reported this rate to be markedly higher. In this study, we examined revision surgery rates and patient-reported outcomes and conducted a radiographic analysis to identify predictors of failure after limited decompression of lumbar facet cysts.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the electronic medical records of patients treated at our institution using the Current Procedural Terminology code 63267 before January 2018 was conducted. The primary outcome measure was revision surgery at the index level for recurrence or instability or a minimum 2-year follow-up without revision surgery. Secondary outcome measures include radiographic assessments of preoperative and postoperative spondylolisthesis and patient-reported outcome measures. Using preoperative MRI studies, an analysis of facet angles at the surgical level was conducted and the presence, location, and amount of facet fluid were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 162 patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 93 patients had a minimum 2-year follow-up. Of these, 19 had undergone a revision surgery at the index level for cyst recurrence or instability. The revision rate for this group was 20.4%. The median time to initial revision surgery was 2.2 years. The median time from index operation to last follow-up was 3.8 years. No differences were observed between the groups regarding the presence of preoperative spondylolisthesis, age, sex, body mass index, blood loss, or patient demographics. 60.2% of all procedures were done at the L4-5 level, but this level accounted for 73.7% of primary failures. A radiographic analysis showed facet angle >45° at L4-5 to be associated with risk of failure of primary decompression. The presence and absolute amount of fluid in the facets were not associated with risk of failure at the L4-5 level.

DISCUSSION

Our revision rate of 20.4% is higher than what is commonly reported in the literature. The radiographic analysis shows that at the L4-5 level, a facet angle of >45° is associated with failure of primary decompression.

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.

Bilateral ganglion cysts at L4/5 causing central canal stenosis and producing sciatica and neurogenic claudication: a case report

Symptomatic bilateral juxtafacet ganglion cysts are relatively uncommon in the degenerated spine. The literature describes 16 cases of bilateral ganglion or synovial cysts, none reported sciatica and neurogenic claudication simultaneously. We present a case of a 60-year-old woman who presented with symptoms of bilateral sciatica and neurogenic claudication. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine revealed bilateral lesions related to the facet joints at the L4/5 level, causing bilateral lateral recess stenosis and narrowing of the central canal due to encroachment of these bilateral lesions at the same level. She underwent an elective central canal decompression of the L4/5 level and excision of the facet cysts bilaterally with lateral recess decompression, which resulted in good relief of both the radicular and claudication symptoms.

Synovial facet joint cysts after lumbar posterior decompression surgery

OBJECTIVE

Numerous studies have reported on synovial facet joint cysts of the spine as a primary lesion. The exact pathogenesis of those cysts is still controversial, but degeneration and destabilization seem to be underlying mechanisms. However, only a few reports have thus far investigated synovial cysts of the spine as postoperative complications of decompression surgery. In this retrospective clinical study, the authors focused on synovial cysts of the lumbar facet joints as complications after lumbar decompression surgery, with the aim of elucidating their pathophysiology.

METHODS

A total of 326 patients with 384 segments treated with posterior decompression surgery without fusion were included in the study. Of these segments, 107 were surgically decompressed unilaterally and 277 were decompressed bilaterally. After surgery, 18 of the 384 segments developed a complication of symptomatic facet synovial cyst. The anatomical and morphological evaluations of these segments were performed using functional plain radiographs, CT scans, and MR images.

RESULTS

All of the 18 segments with postoperative lumbar facet synovial cyst were treated with bilateral lumbar posterior decompression. There was no significant radiological lumbar spinal instability in any segments, although 17 of 18 segments demonstrated facet articular spondylotic changes. Moreover, 12 of 18 patients demonstrated lumbar retrolisthesis in the neutral position.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the authors' results, they propose that patients with lumbar degenerative disease who have a potential biomechanical lumbar instability such as disruption of the facet articular surface and hydrarthrosis or lumbar facet tropism might have a high risk for formation of lumbar facet synovial cyst after bilateral posterior decompression surgery.

Microsurgical Resection of a Lumbar Synovial Cyst: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Lumbar spine synovial cysts develop from degenerated zygapophyseal joints. Symptomatic patients present with radicular pain and weakness or neurogenic claudication.1 In the absence of significant concomitant degenerative spondylolisthesis, symptomatic patients can be managed with a laminectomy and microsurgical resection of the cyst, without the need for instrumented fusion.2,3 In this video, we present the microsurgical resection of a left-sided L4-5 synovial cyst in a 68-yr-old man with radicular pain refractory to conservative management. The radiographical features, relevant surgical anatomy, and salient operative steps are reviewed, and strategies for preventing cyst recurrence are emphasized. There were no complications, the postoperative course was unremarkable, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 1 with significant improvement in his presenting symptoms. No identifying information is present, and patient consent was obtained for the procedure and for publishing the material included in this video.

Microendoscopic decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis caused by facet-joint cysts: a novel technique with a cyst-dyeing protocol and cohort comparison study

OBJECTIVE

Facet cysts may represent a sign of intrinsic facet disease and instability, increasing the importance of less-invasive approaches that limit tissue dissection and improve visualization. The authors developed an intraoperative cyst-dyeing technique, involving the injection of indigo carmine from the facet joint into the cyst, as an adjunct during decompression. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and perioperative complication rates of microendoscopic spinal decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS), caused by facet cysts and to elucidate the efficacy of the cyst-dyeing method in microendoscopic surgery for facet cysts.

METHODS

Forty-eight consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment with microendoscopic decompression for symptomatic LSS or LFS caused by facet cysts from 2011 to 2018 were reviewed. These patients were divided into two groups: a group that did not receive dye (N), with the patients undergoing surgery from April 2011 to May 2015; and a group that received dye (D), with patients undergoing surgery from June 2015 to March 2018. The authors evaluated the operative time, blood loss, perioperative complications, visual analog scale scores for low-back and leg pain, and Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores. Surgical outcome was evaluated 2 years postoperatively and was compared between groups D and N.

RESULTS

The clinical outcomes were generally excellent or good. Group N consisted of 36 patients and group D of 12 patients. Comparing the clinical results, it was found that the cyst-dyeing method reduced the perioperative complication rate, including reduction in dural tears to 0%, and shortened the average operative time by approximately 40 minutes.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the authors demonstrated that the clinical outcomes of microendoscopic spinal decompression in patients with LSS or LFS caused by facet-joint cysts are generally favorable. Additionally, the adjunctive cyst-dyeing method effectively delineated the cystic and dural boundaries, facilitating safer and more effective cyst separation and neural decompression. Microendoscopic surgery combined with this novel facet cyst-dyeing method is a safe and effective minimally invasive technique for facet-joint cysts.

Long-term pain relief following percutaneous steroid treatment of spinal synovial cysts: a population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Spinal synovial cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop after facet joint degeneration and can give rise to radicular pain. If resistant to conservative management, surgical decompression or percutaneous steroid treatment is usually recommended. Percutaneous treatment minimizes the risk of spinal instability, but it has been uncertain whether it provides any long-term symptom relief. Moreover, it is unclear whether cyst rupture provides any added benefit.

OBJECTIVE

To assess long-term pain relief in patients with spinal synovial cysts who were treated with percutaneous intra-articular steroid treatment without cyst rupture.

METHODS

A population-based cohort-study was conducted of all patients with symptomatic synovial cysts who were treated with percutaneous intra-articular steroid treatment without cyst rupture between 1995 and 2014.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients were included. All patients had variations of lower back and radicular pain. Intra-articular access was achieved in 35 (92%) patients, and there were no treatment-related complications. At short-term assessment, 30 (79%) had pain relief. During the median follow-up of 11 years, 12 (32%) patients showed sustained pain relief without the need for decompressive surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous intra-articular steroid treatment without cyst rupture is a safe treatment for symptomatic spinal synovial cysts and eliminates the need for surgery in a substantial number of patients. It can be suggested as a first line of treatment.

Diagnosis and Safe Excision of Lumbar Synovial Cysts and Accompanying Pathology: A Perspective

Background:

Lumbar synovial cysts are often not sufficiently diagnosed prior to spine surgery. Utilizing both MR and CT studies is critical for recognizing the full extent/severity of these lesions.

Methods:

In patients with chronic, acute, or subacute lumbar disease, obtaining both MR and CT studies is critical to correctly diagnose; disc disease, hypertrophy/ossification of the yellow ligament (OYL), stenosis, with/without degenerative spondylolisthesis, and/or synovial cysts (SC).

Results:

MR T2 weighted images directly demonstrate hyperintensity within a SC. They initially cause lateral recess/caudad nerve root and/foraminal compromise, with larger extrusions causing significant lateral thecal sac, and far lateral/superior cephalad root compromise. CT 2 mm cuts often better demonstrate mid-vertebral level compression of cephalad nerve roots with/without SC calcification, along with the extent of mid-vertebral stenosis, hypertrophy/OYL, and DS. When CT studies directly document SC calcification, it alerts the surgeon to the increased potential risk of creating a cerebrospinal fluid fistula with full SC excision, and should prompt the adoption of alternative measures such as decompression/partial removal. Most critically, surgery for synovial cysts often warrants a 2-level laminectomy for fuller visualization of the cephalad and caudad nerve roots, and clearer differentiation of neural tissues from the large fibrotic SC capsule, to effect safer removal.

Conclusions:

Preoperatively, establishing the full cephalad and cauda extent of lumbar synovial cysts with both MR and CT studies is critical. Anticipation and better visualization of the foraminal/far lateral and superior extent of these lesions often warrants more extensive multilevel laminectomies for thecal sac and both cephalad and caudad root decompression.

Case of the Week: Preoperative MR/CT Diagnosis of Left L2-L3 Disc Surgically Documented As Massive Synovial Cyst

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of a lumbar herniated disc, stenosis, and other degenerative findings are typically established preoperatively with MR scans, supplemented with non-contrast CT studies. Here, a 77-year-old female, diagnosed as having L2-S1 stenosis and a large left-sided L2-L3 herniated disc was found at surgery to have a massive left-sided L2-L3 synovial cyst.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 77-year-old female was followed by pain management for 6-months with proximal left lower extremity weakness. The lumbar MR at that time was read as demonstrating a large left L2-L3 disc herniation with inferior migration to the L3 mid pedicle level, accompanied by L2-S1 lumbar stenosis. When she finally consulted neurosurgery, she exhibited severe left iliopsoas and quadriceps weakness (2/5), absent lower extremity reflexes, and profound decreased pin appreciation in the left L2-L3 distributions. The repeat MR and new CT studies confimred a large left L2-L3 disc accompanied by moderate/marked L2-S1 stenosis. However, at surgery, consisting of a laminectomy L2-S1, the supposed left L2-L3 disc proved to be a massive synovial cyst. Postoperatively, the patient regained normal function, and remained neurologically intact 6 months later.

CONCLUSION

In this 77 year-old female, the preoperative MR and CT scans were interpreted as showing a "typical" large left L2-L3 herniated disc. This proved at surgery to be a massive left L2-L3 synovial cyst. As demonstrated in this case, older patients with degenerative lumbar disease/stenosis, may have synovial cysts that mimic disc herniations both clinically and on preoperative diagnostic studies.

Is fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous rupture of facet cyst an alternative to surgery? A case report

Lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts (LISCs) are rare cause of the lumbosacral radicular syndrome. Fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous cyst rupture (PCR) is an option in the treatment. This report introduces long-term symptom relief after fluoroscopy-guided PCR of LISC. A 73-year-old patient presented with low back pain radiating to right leg. L5 radiculopathy was suspected by physical examination; however, an intraspinal cystic mass was visualized through imaging studies. The patient reported immediate pain relief after fluoroscopy-guided PCR, which sustained for one year. In conclusion, fluoroscopy-guided PCR appears to be a safe and effective treatment option and should be considered before surgery in patients with LISCs.

[Lumbar synovial cysts: literature review and original long-term results after microsurgical resection]

BACKGROUND

Intraspinal lumbar vertebral joint cysts are an unusual cause of nerve root compression symptoms and do not differ clinically from the symptoms of a herniated disc.

PATHOGENESIS

The cysts originate from the small vertebral joints and, depending on their size, compress the nerval structures. The affected vertebral joints typically show activated arthritic circumstances, which are associated with degenerative spondylolisthesis in about 50% of cases. In the majority of cases, MRT and CT can be used for diagnostic purposes. The exact etiology has not been fully clarified; various factors such as activated arthritis of the vertebral joints appear to be the major cause.

TREATMENT

Treatment options include conservative, semi-invasive and surgical therapy. Conservative and semi-invasive treatment methods lead to temporary improvement. The result of surgical treatment, however, is excellent in a complete resection of synovial cysts. In In rare cases, an initial fusion is necessary in rare cases.

[Minimally invasive resection of spinal synovial cysts: Technical note]

Objetivo:

Presentar el algoritmo de tratamiento, técnica quirúrgica y resultados de una serie de pacientes con quistes sinoviales espinales resecados con técnica mínimamente invasiva (MIS).

Introducción:

Los quistes sinoviales espinales se originan a partir de la dilatación y potencial ruptura de la vaina sinovial de una articulación facetaria, la resección quirúrgica es considerada el tratamiento de elección en pacientes sintomáticos. La utilización de técnicas MIS podrían disminuir la disrupción de la faceta articular comprometida reduciendo el riesgo de inestabilidad postoperatoria.

Material y métodos:

Se evaluaron retrospectivamente 21 pacientes con quistes sinoviales espinales operados mediante abordaje y descompresión MIS, se analizaron los signos, síntomas, tiempo quirúrgico, estadía hospitalaria, evolución y complicaciones. Se utilizó la escala visual analógica (EVA), para evaluar el dolor y la escala de Weiner y los criterios de Macnab modificados para medir la satisfacción posoperatoria del paciente.

Resultados:

Se trataron quirúrgicamente 21 pacientes (13 mujeres, 8 hombres), el 76,2% (n = 16) de los pacientes de la serie no requirió artrodesis, el 23,8% (n = 5) restante fue fusionado. Realizamos 13 (61,9%) hemilaminectomías contralaterales, 7 hemilaminectomías ipsilaterales (33,3%) y una laminectomía en el QS S1-S2 con técnica MIS. El seguimiento promedio fue de 26 meses, el tiempo de cirugía fue de 150,33 ± 63,31 min., con una estadía hospitalaria de 2,5 ± 1,78 días. La EVA disminuyó de 8,3 preoperatoria a 2,3 postoperatoria. Siguiendo la escala de Macnab; 16 pacientes refirieron resultados excelentes, 4 buenos y 1 regular, el 95,2% de los pacientes percibió que el procedimiento tuvo mucho/bastante éxito según la escala de Weiner.

Conclusión:

El abordaje mínimamente invasivo es un procedimiento seguro y eficaz para la resección completa de quistes sinoviales espinales. Proporciona resultados clínico-funcionales excelentes preservando músculos, ligamentos y facetas articulares.

Surgical Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Discal Cyst: Is It Enough to Remove the Cyst Only without Following Discectomy?

Discal cysts are a rare cause of low back pain and radiculopathy with unknown pathophysiologic mechanism. Associated symptoms are difficult to distinguish from those caused by extruded discs and other spinal canal lesions. Most discal cysts are treated surgically, but it is unclear whether the corresponding intervertebral disc should be excised along with cyst. We conducted a retrospective clinical review of 27 patients who underwent discal cyst excision at our institution between 2000 and 2017. The mean follow-up period was 63.6 months. We recorded symptoms, radiographs, operative findings, postoperative complications, and short- and long-term outcomes. Structured outcome assessment was based on Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain intensity, Oswestry disability index, and Macnab classification. All patients underwent partial hemilaminectomy and microscopic cyst resection without discectomy. All patients had preoperative back or leg pain. Other preoperative clinical features included motor weakness, neurogenic intermittent claudication, and cauda equina syndrome. After surgery, NRS scores of back and leg pain decreased. The other symptoms also improved. During long-term follow-up, patients reported no restrictions on daily life activities, and were satisfied with our intervention. There were no cases of cyst recurrence. We conducted a review of the literature on lumbar discal cysts published before January, 2018. Including our cases, 126 patients were described. We compared two surgical modalities—cystectomy with and without discectomy—to elucidate both effectiveness and long-term complications. We found that microsurgical cystectomy without corresponding discectomy is an effective surgical treatment for lumbar discal cysts, and is associated with a low recurrence rate.

Stable Spondylolisthesis: Should Management Change Based on Presence of Facet Cysts?

STUDY DESIGN

This is a retrospective cohort review.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether a correlation exists between facet cysts and lumbar instability.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Lumbar facet cysts are common degenerative entities observed in patients with low-grade spondylolisthesis at a rate of 10%-50%. Surgical management with partial facetectomy with or without fusion remains controversial.

METHODS

Review of 86 patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis is performed. Preoperative magnetic resonance imagings were reviewed for the presence of lumbar facet cysts and Facet Fluid Indices (FFI)-calculated as the ratio of facet fluid width to facet width. Instability was defined as a difference of >3 mm in vertebral displacement between flexion and extension radiographs. T tests and the Pearson correlation analyses were used to determine statistical significance.

RESULTS

In total, 26 patients had unstable and 60 had stable spondylolisthesis. Facet cysts were present at an overall prevalence of 30.1%-in 10/26 patients in the unstable group and in 18/60 patients in the stable group (P>0.05). The average FFIs for the unstable and stable groups were 0.13 and 0.09, respectively (P>0.05). FFI in patients with facet cysts was significantly higher than those without (P<0.05). In addition, the group with facet cysts had a significantly higher proportion of patients with FF effusions >3 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

Lack of correlation with instability hints that the presence of facet cysts may not indicate instability in lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis. Therefore, presence of facet cysts in static magnetic resonance imaging revealing spondylolisthesis should not preclude the physician from performing dynamic films to evaluate for instability. Significantly higher FFI in patients with facet cysts reaffirms the degenerative pathophysiology involved in their formation. Although this is not an outcomes study, it does spark interest into whether patients with stable spondylolisthesis and concurrent facet cysts are suitable for partial facetectomy alone with fusion.

Acute lumbosacral hemorrhagic ganglion cyst after transforaminal epidural steroid injection

Epidural steroid injection is one of the most commonly used non-surgical treatments for degenerative lumbar vertebral disease. Its use has increased as degenerative lumbar vertebral disease has increased in frequency. Concomitant complications are being reported more often. In this report, we report a rare case of iatrogenic hemorrhagic cyst following epidural steroid injection. The patient underwent operative treatment with complete resolution of his symptoms

The Role of Imaging in the Management of Cystic Formations of the Mobile Spine (CYFMOS)

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to give a better understanding of the pathogenesis of cystic formations of the mobile spine (CYFMOS) and the correlating imaging findings. This would help with medical decision-making, given the plethora of conservative, interventional, and surgical treatment options.

RECENT FINDINGS

There has been a general understanding that CYFMOS are associated with degenerative spine changes. More recent articles however have suggested that identifying detailed imaging characteristics can assist in determining outcomes when CYFMOS are treated with interventional percutaneous methods or surgical decompression with or without concomitant fusion. CYFMOS although uncommon are not a rare finding seen in the spine when there is a background of degenerative spine changes. These cystic lesions are generally symptomatic by exhibiting mass effect on adjacent structure. Most treatments are aimed at decompression by interventional percutaneous or surgical means. Various imaging characteristics of these CYFMOS described in this article including their signal intensity, presence of spinal instability, particular patterns of adjacent degenerative changes, and imaging changes following interventional treatments can help guide physicians when managing these cases.

Spinal case of the month with short perspective: How would you treat this L3-L4 synovial cyst?

Background

In this new section, Case of the Month with Short Perspective from Surgical Neurology International, we want to see how various spine surgeons would approach different spinal pathologies. In this first case, an elderly male presented with 3 years of lower back pain and progressive neurogenic claudication with bilateral radiculopathy that had exacerbated over the prior 6 months. An outside physician performed a magnetic resonance (MR) study of the lumbar spine that showed a massive synovial cyst filling the spinal canal (e.g., large bilateral cysts) at the L3-L4 level with grade I spondylolisthesis. The MR and CT studies also both demonstrated moderate L2-L3, and severe L3-L4 stenosis.

Methods

Despite the massive synovial cyst filling the spinal canal at the L3-L4 level, pain management (anesthesia training) spent 3 months performing three successive epidural steroid injections accompanied by attempts at percutaneous synovial cyst aspiration/rupture.

Results

By the time the patient presented to neurosurgery, he had developed severe neurogenic claudication, radiculopathy, myelopathy, and a cauda equina syndrome. Dynamic X-rays revealed a mild grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis at the L3-L4 level without active motion, while both computed tomography (CT) and MR studies confirmed moderate stenosis stenosis/ossification of the yellow ligament at the L2-L3 level, severe stenosis at L3-L4 level with spondylolisthesis, and massive bilateral synovial cysts at the L3-L4 level filling the spinal canal.

Conclusions

Following an L2-L4 decompressive laminectomy without fusion (note the absence of motion intraoperatively at the L3-L4 level), the patient's symptoms resolved, and he regained normal function. How would you have managed this patient?

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

BACKGROUND

With the aging of our society comes a rising number of elderly patients with progressive degeneration of the spine associated with synovial cysts. Surgical treatment may be particularly challenging in elderly patients because of comorbidities.

METHODS

Patients treated in our department between 1999 and 2014 for spinal synovial cysts were screened. The 28 patients ≥75 years old were classified as elderly and were compared with 96 patients 50-74 years old. No patient underwent fusion as part of cyst resection.

RESULTS

Despite a significantly higher frequency of muscle reflex changes in elderly patients at presentation, symptoms, cyst levels, rate of complications, and surgical method were not different between groups. Cyst adherence to the dura and subtotal resection were observed significantly more often in the elderly group (18% vs. 3%; P < 0.05). Outcome according to the Oswestry Disability Index was classified as no disability or minimal disability in 85% of the elderly group and in 82% of the control group. Recurrent cyst and delayed fusion rates were lower in the elderly group (4% and 4%) compared with the control group (7% and 8%).

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical course of elderly patients with surgical treatment of spinal synovial cysts did not differ compared with younger patients. Good or excellent results could be achieved and persisted for a long time in most cases. Fusion should be performed only in cases of severe instability. Nonaggressive cyst removal in cases of dural attachment enables low cerebrospinal fluid fistula rates without increasing cyst recurrence rates.

Ventral Lumbar Synovial Cyst Causing Cauda Equina Compression: Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Juxtafacet spinal cysts are cystic synovial lesions that often are indistinguishable clinically or radiologically and require histopathology analysis to confirm the diagnosis. Lumbar synovial cysts usually arising from the synovium of the facet joints. They have been described posterolaterally or rarely in the posterior midline. However, we describe the first synovial cyst ventral to the dural sac.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We report a lumbar 3-4 lesion causing cauda equina compression in a 57-year-old man who presented with a 3-month history of low back pain and bilateral sciatica, intermittent urinary incontinence, and erectile dysfunction. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging suggested prolapsed disc, after decompression, histological analysis of the fragment confirmed a synovial cyst.

CONCLUSIONS

Hitherto synovial cysts have not been reported anterior to the dural sac. We describe a lumbar ventral cystic mass with cauda equina compression that mimicked a disc prolapse due to synovial metaplasia. The patient had urgent decompression with subsequent resolution of the symptoms.

Synovial cysts of the spine: long-term follow-up after surgical treatment of 141 cases in a single-center series and comprehensive literature review of 2900 degenerative spinal cysts

OBJECTIVE Synovial cysts of the spine are rare lesions, predominantly arising in the lumbar region. Despite their generally benign behavior, they can cause severe symptoms due to compression of neural structures in the spinal canal. Treatment strategies are still a matter of discussion. The authors performed a single-center survey and literature search focusing on long-term results after minimally invasive surgery. METHODS A total of 141 consecutive patients treated for synovial cysts of the lumbar spine between 1997 and 2014 in the authors' department were analyzed. Medical reports with regard to signs and symptoms, operative findings, complications, and short-term outcome were reviewed. Assessment of long-term outcome was performed with a standardized telephone questionnaire based on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Furthermore, patients were questioned about persisting pain, symptoms, and further operative procedures, if any. Subjective satisfaction was classified as excellent, good, fair, or poor based on the Macnab classification. RESULTS The approach most often used for synovial cyst treatment was partial hemilaminectomy in 70%; hemilaminectomy was necessary in 27%. At short-term follow-up, the presence of severe and moderate leg pain had decreased from 93% to 5%. The presence of low-back pain decreased from 90% to 5%. Rates of motor and sensory deficits were reduced from 40% to 14% and from 45% to 6%, respectively. The follow-up rate was 58%, and the mean follow-up period was 9.3 years. Both leg pain and low-back pain were still absent in 78%. Outcome based on the Macnab classification was excellent in 80%, good in 14%, fair in 1%, and poor in 5%. According to the ODI, 78% of patients had no or only minimal disability, 16% had moderate disability, and 6% had severe disability at the time of follow-up. In this cohort, 7% needed surgery due to cyst recurrence, and 9% required a delayed stabilization procedure after the initial operation. CONCLUSIONS Surgical treatment with resection of the cyst provides favorable results in outcome. Excellent or good outcome persisting for a long-term follow-up period can be achieved in the vast majority of cases. Complication rates are low despite an increased risk of dural injury. With facet-sparing techniques, the stability of the segment can be preserved, and resection of spinal synovial cysts does not necessarily require segmental fusion.

Targeted Radiofrequency Ablation as an Adjunct in Treatment of Lumbar Facet Cysts

Lumbar facet cysts are frequently found in patients with facet degeneration and segmental instability. When the facet cyst is localized in the neural foramina and lateral recess or becomes large, it can cause radiculopathy or neurogenic claudication. These symptomatic cysts are typically treated interventionally with drainage and a corticosteroid injection or attempts via overinflation to rupture the cyst; however, these procedures have a significant recurrence rate (up to 50%) and often need to be repeated or lead to lumbar surgery if unsuccessful.  

This is the first report of using targeted radiofrequency (RF) current as an adjunct to cyst drainage. Although RF has been used for years to treat facet pain indirectly by targeting the medial facet nerve branches, with this technique, under image guidance, the actual cyst is percutaneously drained and then cauterized along with the associated facet capsule, where the original cyst developed. This has improved overall results with less cyst recurrence than previous percutaneous methods and was documented with both intermediate and long-term followup clinically and with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. This report reviews the underlying anatomy and pathology of the facet joint relating to the development of facet cysts and how current percutaneous treatments for lumbar facet cysts can be supplemented and improved by adding targeted RF ablation to the percutaneous options available to treat a lumbar facet cyst.

A novel approach to symptomatic lumbar facet joint synovial cyst injection and rupture using iGuide navigational software: A case report and review

Spinal synovial cysts are benign protrusions of facet joint capsules caused by degenerative spondylosis, most frequently involving the L4-5 level, and commonly lead to symptoms of back pain, radiculopathy and neurogenic claudication. Although percutaneous treatment via facet joint steroid injection with cyst rupture can provide significant symptom relief, cyst rupture is not always achievable via an indirect trans-facet approach due to limited access from severe degenerative changes. In this case, we describe a successful approach to direct cyst access using a laser-guided navigational software in a patient with severe facet joint osteophytosis. We provide a brief review of literature.

Juxtafacet Spinal Synovial Cysts

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective study.

PURPOSE

To study the surgical outcome of synovial cysts of the lumbar spine through posterior laminectomy in combination with transpedicular screw fixation.

OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE

Synovial cysts of the lumbar spine contribute significantly to narrowing of the spinal canal and lateral thecal sac and nerve root compression. Cysts form as a result of arthrotic disruption of the facet joint, leading to degenerative spondylolisthesis in up to 40% of patients.

METHODS

Retrospective data from 6 patients, treated during the period of March 2007 to February 2011, were analyzed. All preoperative and postoperative manifestations, extension/flexion radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography records were reviewed. All underwent surgery for synovial cysts with excision and decompression combined with posterior fixation. The result of surgery was evaluated with Macnab's classification. An excellent or good outcome was considered as satisfactory. Japanese Orthopedic Association Scale was used for evaluation of back pain.

RESULTS

All patients included in this study had excellent outcomes as regarding to improvement of all preoperative manifestations and returning to normal daily activities. Only 2 cases developed postoperative transient cerebro-spinal fluid leak and were treated conservatively and improved during the follow up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Although this study included a small number of cases and we could not have statistically significant results, the good outcome of decompression of synovial cysts combined with posterior fixation and fusion encouraged us to recommend this approach for patients with juxtafacet synovial cysts.

Epiduroscopic Removal of a Lumbar Facet Joint Cyst

Facet joint synovial cysts are usually associated with osteoarthritis of the adjacent facet joint and/or spondylolisthesis. In between the conservative and operative ends of the treatment spectrum lie minimally invasive techniques such as cyst rupture using epiduroscopy. In this report, we describe an 82-year-old male patient presenting with low back pain radiating to his lower left extremity and associated paresthesia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine revealed a synovial cyst at left L4/5 facet joint. Using epiduroscopy, the cyst was mechanically ruptured by popping it with the tip of the scope. The patient remained symptom-free at his successive visits until 12 months after the procedure, and was opened for desired follow up.

Minimally invasive resection of lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts via a contralateral approach: review of 13 cases

OBJECT

The authors sought to determine patient-related outcomes after minimally invasive surgical (MIS) lumbar intraspinal synovial cyst excision via a tubular working channel and a contralateral facet-sparing approach.

METHODS

All the patients with a symptomatic lumbar intraspinal synovial cyst who underwent surgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics with an MIS excision via a contralateral approach were treated between July 2010 and August 2014. There was a total of 13 cases. Each patient was evaluated with preoperative neurological examinations, lumbar spine radiography, MRI, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores. The patients were evaluated postoperatively with neurological examinations and VAS and Macnab scores. The primary outcomes were improvement in VAS and Macnab scores. Secondary outcomes were average blood loss, hospital stay duration, and operative times.

RESULTS

There were 5 males and 8 females. The mean age was 66 years, and the mean body mass index was 28.5 kg/m2. Sixty-nine percent (9 of 13) of the cysts were at L4–5. Most patients had low-back pain and radicular pain, and one-third of them had Grade 1 spondylolisthesis. The mean (± SD) follow-up duration was 20.8 ± 16.9 months. The mean Macnab score was 3.4 ± 1.0, and the VAS score decreased from 7.8 preoperatively to 2.9 postoperatively. The mean operative time was 123 ± 30 minutes, with a mean estimated blood loss of 44 ± 29 ml. Hospital stay averaged 1.5 ± 0.7 days. There were no complications noted in this series.

CONCLUSIONS

The MIS excision of lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts via a contralateral approach offers excellent exposure to the cyst and spares the facet joint at the involved level, thus minimizing risk of instability, blood loss, operative time, and hospital stay. Prospective randomized trials with longer follow-up times and larger cohorts are needed to conclusively determine the superiority of the contralateral MIS approach over others, including open or ipsilateral minimally invasive surgery.

Acute myelopathy caused by a cervical synovial cyst

Synovial cysts of the cervical spine, although they occur infrequently, may cause acute radiculopathy or myelopathy. Here, we report a case of a cervical synovial cyst presenting as acute myelopathy after manual stretching. A 68-year-old man presented with gait disturbance, decreased touch senses, and increased sensitivity to pain below T12 level. These symptoms developed after manual stretching 3 days prior. Computed tomography scanning and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 1-cm, small multilocular cystic lesion in the spinal canal with cord compression at the C7-T1 level. We performed a left partial laminectomy of C7 and T1 using a posterior approach and completely removed the cystic mass. Histological examination of the resected mass revealed fibrous tissue fragments with amorphous materials and granulation tissue compatible with a synovial cyst. The patient's symptoms resolved after surgery. We describe a case of acute myelopathy caused by a cervical synovial cyst that was treated by surgical excision. Although cervical synovial cysts are often associated with degenerative facet joints, clinicians should be aware of the possibility that these cysts can cause acute neurologic symptoms.

Lumbar intraforaminal synovial cyst in young adulthood: case report and review of the literature

Study Design Case report. Objective Lumbar juxtafacet cysts (synovial and ganglion cysts) are a rare cause of low back and radicular leg pain. Most patients with lumbar cysts are in their sixth decade of life and have significant facet joint and disk degeneration. Lumbar synovial cysts (LSCs) are extremely rare in adolescence and young adulthood, and to our knowledge, only two pediatric cases of LSC have been reported in the literature. We aim to prove the existence of LSC in adolescent patients as a real entity that causes low back and radicular complaints and to discuss the possibility of traumatic injury as a pathogenic cause of LSC formation in adolescence. A case of an 18-year old patient with LSC is presented. We report the clinical presentation, management, outcome, and review of the literature, focusing on issues that remain debatable. Methods The case is presented together with its clinical course, the diagnostic techniques, the surgical findings, histologic results, and the treatment outcome. Results After surgical treatment, the patient's complaints were alleviated and almost no complaints were registered during the next 6 months' follow-up. Conclusions LSCs are extremely rare in adolescence, but they could be considered in the differential diagnosis in adolescent patients with low back pain and radiculopathy. Surgical removal of LSC could be considered as a treatment option to provide immediate and safe symptomatic relief.

How to image patients with spine pain

Different radiological methods play an important role in the work-up of patients complaining of spine pain. Depending on the symptoms and the suspected underlying etiology different methods are selected. In the following presentation we briefly present the different radiological and magnetic resonance tomography methods that are at hand, give some guidance in which method to use, and present the typical imaging findings in some of the most common conditions that presents with spine pain.

Lumbar L4-L5 ganglion cyst with hemicauda equina syndrome. Report of a case and review of the literature

Mostly associated with degenerative facet joints and spondylolisthesis, symptomatic lumbar juxta facet cysts - ganglion and synovial cysts are uncommon lesions of the spine. They can mimic herniated discs, causing low back pain, radiculopathy or even cauda equina syndrome; also some of them are associated with spinal instability. Referring to a case with hemicauda equina syndrome where microsurgical decompression was performed with very good result; alternative treatment solutions are discussed: conservative therapy for symptomatic lesions is often unsuccessful, spinal fusion should be made for those cases with spinal instability, although there are reports of spontaneous resolution of these cysts as well as the symptoms associated with them.

Synovial cysts of the cervicothoracic junction causing myelopathy: report of 3 cases and review of the literature

Synovial cysts are uncommon pathological entities in patients with cervical degenerative spinal disease, and there are only a few reports in the literature. Treatment typically involves decompression; however, biomechanical data indicate that laminectomies in the cervical spine also result in cervical instability, specifically within the cervicothoracic junction, supporting the use of fusion as well. The authors describe the use of fusion with decompression in the treatment of 3 patients with cervicothoracic synovial cysts that presented in an acute fashion with associated myelopathy and neurological decline, and they review the diagnostic elements, histopathology, and treatment of these cysts. All 3 of the patients did well with decompression via a posterior approach with a single-level instrumented fusion from C-7 to T-1. Each patient regained complete neurological function and had no residual neurological deficits. These results are promising, although the sample size of 3 cases is too small to make any conclusive evaluations. Future studies incorporating Class I and Class II data are imperative to make firm conclusions regarding general management of this rare entity.

Synovial cysts of the lumbar spine

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Synovial cysts of the spine occur most frequently in the lumbosacral region. Methods of treatment vary, but in cases of chronic pain or neurological deficits surgical intervention is undertaken. The aim of this paper is to present indications, surgical technique and efficacy of surgical treatment in patients with synovial cyst of the spinal canal.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The retrospective analysis included 11 patients, aged from 47 to 72 years, treated at the Department of Neurosurgery and Neurotraumatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, between 2004 and 2009. The length of medical history ranged from 2 months to 6 years. Conservative treatment applied before surgery was not effective. Neurological examination revealed unilateral or bilateral sciatica, superficial sensory disturbance or lower limb paresis.

RESULTS

Synovial cysts were located mainly at the L4-L5 level (9 cases). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine was performed in all patients and showed the cystic lesion attached to the intervertebral joint. Surgical treatment consisted of a unilateral fenestration using microsurgical techniques in most cases. Back pain relief was observed in 9 cases. In 10 patients, symptoms of sciatica disappeared. Neurological deficits disappeared in 5 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical treatment of spinal synovial cysts is safe, effective and ensures a long-lasting effect. Surgical treatment is indicated in patients in whom the clinical symptoms correlate with the presence of synovial cyst in imaging studies and do not resolve after conservative treatment.

Minimally invasive resection of lumbar synovial cysts from a contralateral approach

Synovial cysts of the lumbar spine result from degeneration of the facet capsule and often mimic symptoms commonly seen with herniated intervertebral discs. In symptomatic patients, the prevalence of synovial cysts may be as high as 10%. Although conservative management is possible, the majority of patients will require resection. Traditional procedures for lumbar synovial cyst resection use an ipsilateral approach requiring partial or complete resection of the ipsilateral facet complex, possibly leading to further destabilization. A contralateral technique using minimally invasive tubular retractors for synovial cyst resection avoids facet disruption. The authors report 2 cases of a minimally invasive synovial cyst resection via a contralateral laminotomy. In both cases, complete resection of the cyst was achieved while sparing the facet joint.

Juxtafacet cyst infection

PURPOSE

In the realm of spinal surgery, infections have multiple etiologies and sites of origin. In this case series, we describe a juxtafacet cyst spinal infection that can often be missed or attributed to common symptomology of benign processes despite florid infection.

METHODS

In rare instances, the juxtafacet cyst may become infected and require direct intervention. This case report attempts to describe the prodrome leading to such a diagnosis and two different ways to manage an infected facet cyst.

RESULTS

Management of spinal infections varies due to the multiplicity of causes and location of infections. The juxtafacet cyst infection should remain a part of the differential diagnosis for low back pain as their presentation often mimics more common presenting complaints.

CONCLUSIONS

In our two patient presentations, both were diabetics and had remote histories of cancer that necessitated chemotherapy or radiation therapy. They also seemingly had de novo onset of infected juxtafacet cyst. The variety of causes and presentations of spinal infections should heighten the astute surgeon to be suspicious of these entities and thus intervene early with appropriate management.

The diagnosis and management of synovial cysts: Efficacy of surgery versus cyst aspiration

Background:

The surgical management of lumbar synovial cysts that have extruded into the spinal canal remains controversial (e.g. decompression with/without fusion).

Methods:

The neurological presentation, anatomy, pathophysiology, and surgical challenges posed by synovial cysts in the lumbar spine are well known. Neurological complaints typically include unilateral or, more rarely, bilateral radicular complaints, and/or cauda equina syndromes. Anatomically, synovial cysts constitute cystic dilatations of synovial sheaths that directly extrude from facet joints into the spinal canal. Pathophysiologically, these cysts reflect disruption of the facet joints often with accompanying instability, and potentially compromise both the cephalad and caudad nerve roots.

Results:

Aspiration of lumbar synovial cysts, which are typically gelatinous and non-aspirable, and typically performed by “pain specialists” (e.g. pain management, rehabilitation, radiologists, others) utilizing fluoroscopy or CT-guided aspiration, is associated with 50–100% failure rates. Surgical decompression with/without fusion (as the issue regarding fusion remains unsettled) results in the resolution of back and radicular pain in 91.6–92.5% and 91.1–91.9% of cases, respectively.

Conclusions:

After a thorough review of the literature, it appears that the treatment with the best outcome for patients with synovial cysts is cyst removal utilizing surgical decompression; the need for attendant fusion remains unsettled. The use of an alternative treatment, percutaneous aspiration of cysts, appears to have a much higher recurrence and failure rate, but may be followed by surgery if warranted.