title: Microsurgical resection of juxtafacet cysts without concomitant fusion-Long-term follow-up of 74 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report on our experience with treating juxtafacet cysts focusing on clinical outcome, rate of recurrence and secondary surgery, especially fusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study evaluates patients who underwent surgical resection of juxtafacet cysts without concomitant fusion from 2002 to 2013 with a minimum follow-up of one year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete follow-up is available in 74 patients. Mean follow-up in all 74 patients was 69±34months (range, 14-140 months). Mean ODI was 14.9%. 68 patients (91.9%) were pleased with the results and would undergo surgery again. Three patients (4.1%) underwent secondary resection because of cyst recurrence at the same site. Four patients (5.4%) needed secondary fusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients without evident clinical and radiological criteria of instability we regard surgical resection of juxtafacet cysts without concomitant fusion as adequate primary treatment due to good outcome and low incidence of secondary symptomatic instability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: christoph.scholz@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hubbe
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kogias
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roelz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan-Helge
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Klingler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D045888:Ganglion Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013581:Synovial Cyst / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Cyst recurrence; Fusion; Ganglion cyst; Instability; Juxtafacet cyst; Lumbar spine; Microsurgical resection; Synovial cyst