title: Cervical juxtafacet cyst after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
abstract: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a common neurosurgical procedure, and the benefits, long-term outcomes, and complications are well described in the literature. The development of a juxtafacet joint cyst resulting in radiculopathy is a rare outcome after ACDF and merits further description. The authors describe a patient in whom a juxtafacet joint cyst developed after ACDF procedures, resulting in surgical intervention. When a juxtafacet joint cyst develops after ACDF, symptoms can include radiculopathy, neck pain, and neurological symptoms such as paresthesias and motor weakness. The presence of a juxtafacet joint cyst implies instability in that region of the spine. Patients with this pathological entity may require decompression of neural elements and fusion across the segment involved with the cyst.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Walavan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sivakumar
authors.forename: J Bradley
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bilsky
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome