The Surgical Treatment of Lumbar Facet Cyst

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We report an analysis of the clinical outcome of surgical treatment of lumbar facet cyst. METHODS: From March, 1996 to June, 2001, we analyzed the symptom and sign, cyst level, combined disease, treatment method, pathology and surgical result(Prolo's scale) of 11 patients. RESULTS: Mean age of 11 patients was 55.6 years and mean follow up duration was 27 months. Of 11 patients, six cases had low back pain and five cases had radiating leg pain as chief complaint. Five had only facet cyst that compressed the nerve root without other combined diseases. Of six patients who had facet cyst with combined disease, three had intraspinal stenosis and the remaining three had spondylolytic spondylolisthesis. There was one case of bilateral facet cyst. We had totally excised facet cyst and treated combined degenerative disease such as lumbar stenosis, lumbar instability or spondylolytic spondylolithesis. The pathologic result were synovial cyst for eight cases and ganglion for three cases. In all cases, symptoms improved without complication or recurrence. CONCLUSION: Surgical outcome of lumbar facet cyst is good and surgical intervention is recommended in facet cyst with back pain, radiculopathy and combined degenerative diseases.