title: Balloon-Assisted Fistula Sealing Procedure for Symptomatic Tarlov Cysts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tarlov cyst is an abnormal expansion of the spinal nerve sleeve, and it communicates with the subarachnoid cavity via a perineural fistula. This study presents our experience of a balloon-assisted fistula sealing procedure in treating Tarlov cyst.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients with symptomatic Tarlov cysts were surgically treated. An emulsion balloon was placed into the lumbar subarachnoid cistern through a trocar, so as to temporarily block cerebrospinal fluid flow, then the thecal sac was opened and the inlet of the fistula was sealed by suture of a muscular patch and reinforced by fibrin glue. Finally, the cyst wall was imbricated and the bony cavity was filled with pedicled muscle flaps.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing the preoperative and postoperative pain scores according to visual analog scale, 2 patients were slightly improved and 18 patients were substantially improved, including 3 completely pain-free cases. Only 2 patients were unchanged in pain, and both of them had multiple cysts. As a whole, the postoperative pain score was much better than the preoperative score (2.4 vs. 7.5; P < 0.01). Bladder weakness was slightly improved, and bowel dysfunction was almost unchanged after operation. During follow-up, cyst recurrence was found in 1 patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The balloon-assisted fistula sealing procedure is safe and effective for Tarlov cyst, especially for the single cyst. It is a good complement to the cyst wall imbricating procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zheng.xs@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Xuesheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shiting
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hansong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Baohui
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Nu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China; Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chaoran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002407:Catheterization, Swan-Ganz / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005402:Fistula / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000473:pathology*; D052958:Tarlov Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives
keywords: Balloon-assisted procedure; Fistula; Tarlov cyst