title: Percutaneous Facet Screw Fixation in the Treatment of Symptomatic Recurrent Lumbar Facet Joint Cyst: A New Technique.
abstract: We present a case of percutaneous treatment of symptomatic recurrent lumbar facet joint cyst resistant to all medical treatments including facet joint steroid injection. Percutaneous transfacet fixation was then performed at L4-L5 level with a cannulated screw using CT and fluoroscopy guidance. The procedure time was 30 min. Using the visual analog scale (VAS), pain decreased from 9.5, preoperatively, to 0 after the procedure. At 6-month follow-up, an asymptomatic cystic recurrence was observed, which further reduced at the 1-year follow-up. Pain remained stable (VAS at 0) during all follow-ups. CT- and fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous cyst rupture associated with facet screw fixation could be an alternative to surgery in patients suffering from a symptomatic recurrent lumbar facet joint cyst.
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France. amorettinicolas@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amoretti
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France. giacomo.gallo83@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France. asbertrand3@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.affiliation: New York Medical College, New York, USA. rbard@cancerscan.com.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bard
authors.affiliation: University General Hospital "ATTIKON", Athens, Greece. akelekis@med.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelekis
mesh_terms: D001863:Bone Screws; D003560:Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: Lumbar facet joint; Lumbar pain; Screw fixation; Synovial cyst