title: Degenerative spondylolisthesis, synovial cyst of the zygapophyseal joints, and sciatic syndrome: report of two cases and review of the literature.
abstract: Two cases of sciatica secondary to nerve root compression by a "synovial cyst" of a zygapophyseal joint are described. In light of these 2 cases and on reviewing the literature, it appears that zygapophyseal joint osteoarthritis with degenerative (or articular) spondylolisthesis can be a predisposing factor to the formation of such synovial expansions and, consequently, the cause of nerve root compression. The coexistence of a lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis with a radicular syndrome should therefore encourage early investigation by computed tomography scan, so that conservative treatment would not be unnecessarily prolonged.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Geneva Medical School, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reust
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wendling
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lagier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pageaut
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reverdin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jacquet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guidet
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Fallet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000150:complications*; D013581:Synovial Cyst / Q000150:complications*