Diagnosis and surgical management of lumbar degenerative juxtafacet joint cysts / 中国矫形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

[Objective]To discuss the diagnosis and surgical management of lumbar degenerative juxtafacet joint cysts. [Methods]From June 2004 to June 2007,seven patients were diagnosed as degenerative juxtafacet joint cysts and were treated by surgery. The authors made a retrospective analysis on the clinical data of these 7 patients. Among these 7 patients,there were one as ligamentum flavum cyst and six as facet joint cysts. Five lesions were located at the L4、5 level and two were located at the L5S1 level. According to the preoperative lateral films and CT scan,segment instability were found in two patients. Fenestration decompression,resection of cyst and 1/3 medial articular process were performed on five patient without preoperative segment instability,while additional posterior fixation and posterolateral fusion were done to two patients with preoperative segment instability.The mean length of follow up were 14 months (range 9~24 months ). The VAS score and ODI score were used for clinical outcome assessment.[Results]The pathological results confirmed the preoperative radiological diagnosis in all patients. Improvement were found in all patients,including completely recovery in five patients and significant relief of pain in other two patients.[Conclusion]Lumbar degenerative juxtafacet joint cysts has been proved to be a cause of low back pain. Preoperative CT scan and MRI are helpful in the diagnosis and the clinical outcome of surgery is satisfactory.