Endoscope-assisted excision of a juxtafacet cyst in an adolescent athlete: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Juxtafacet cysts (JFCs) are a cause of back and radicular pain that can be treated conservatively and operatively. Such strategies include lumbosacral brace, epidural injection, open surgery, and minimally invasive surgery; although surgical treatment is usually reserved for unsuccessful conservative treatment. The role of minimally invasive surgery in athletic youth with JFCs has yet to be determined.


METHODS
The patient is a 16-year-old basketball player with a JFC. We performed endoscope-assisted cystectomy.


RESULTS
Endoscope-assisted JFC excision immediately and completely resolved the patient's lower back and leg pain with no recurrence of symptoms 4 years after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that JFCs of the lumbar spine be a part of the differential diagnosis in young patients with back and radicular pain. Furthermore, we recommend that endoscope-assisted surgery be employed in the treatment of JFCs in young athletes.
University of California, Irvine, California, United States.
Justin
J
Hopkins
Department of Orthopedics, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
Toshinori
T
Sakai
Department of Orthopedics, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
Koichi
K
Sairyo
University of California, Irvine, California, United States.
Jason
J
Mefford
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, Irvine, California, United States.
Nitin N
NN
Bhatia
Department of Orthopedics, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
Ichiro
I
Tonogai
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Teikyo, Mizonokuchi Hospital, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki City, Japan.
Akira
A
Dezawa
Department of Orthopedics, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
Natsuo
N
Yasui
D000293:Adolescent; D001490:Basketball; D015653:Cystectomy / Q000379:methods*; D003560:Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint