Epiduroscopic Removal of a Lumbar Facet Joint Cyst.
Facet joint synovial cysts are usually associated with osteoarthritis of the adjacent facet joint and/or spondylolisthesis. In between the conservative and operative ends of the treatment spectrum lie minimally invasive techniques such as cyst rupture using epiduroscopy. In this report, we describe an 82-year-old male patient presenting with low back pain radiating to his lower left extremity and associated paresthesia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine revealed a synovial cyst at left L4/5 facet joint. Using epiduroscopy, the cyst was mechanically ruptured by popping it with the tip of the scope. The patient remained symptom-free at his successive visits until 12 months after the procedure, and was opened for desired follow up.
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Hyun Seung
HS
Jin
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Jun Yeol
JY
Bae
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Chi Bum
CB
In
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Eun Joo
EJ
Choi
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Pyung Bok
PB
Lee
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Francis Sahngun
FS
Nahm
Cyst; Epiduroscopy; Low back pain; Minimally invasive procedures; Therapy; Zygapophyseal joint