Functional recovery following resection of large Tarlov cyst malformation: a multicentre longitudinal cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The authors report their experience with 44 consecutive patients who underwent cyst fenestration and wall repair or cerebrospinal fluid communication closure for the management of sacral Tarlov cysts.

METHODS

The procedure was performed on 32 women and 12 men with a mean age of 42 years. Clinical complaints in all patients included lumbar-sacral aching, sphincter dysfunction perineal pain, and sexual intercourse pain. The patients' symptoms had developed within a mean time period of 45 months. Five patients had a previous cyst puncture. In all patients, the cyst was exposed through a sacral laminectomy. In 30 patients, the cyst was partially resected its wall repaired, and in the remaining patients, the cyst was fenestrated, and the cerebrospinal fluid communication was located and tamponaded. Thirty-seven patients had intraoperative EMG monitoring. While the perineal pain, urinary, or sexual dysfunction improved in all patients, eleven patients reported lasting pain control following surgery. The cyst was reduced in all resected cases and seven of 14 patients with CSF tamponade. The mean length of the follow-up period was 57 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Either cyst repair or CSF tamponade can be sufficient for alleviating symptoms in patients with Tarlov cyst. Advice should be given to patients regarding expectations for pain improvement after surgery.