Abstract | AIM:
Synovial cysts are relatively common in the lumbar spine and very uncommon in the cervical spine. Several case reports and a few small series have been reported in the literature over the past four decades. There are two distinct cervical spine synovial cyst categories: atlantoaxial and the subaxial cervical spine. The surgical treatments are very different. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report eleven patients undergoing transoral resection and posterior fusion for histologically confirmed symptomatic atlantoaxial synovial cysts. This represents a retrospective review over 18 years. The authors analyzed the literature of patients who underwent surgical treatment for symptomatic atlantoaxial synovial cysts. RESULTS: There were four male and seven female patients with a mean age of 76 years (range 54-84 years). All patients presented with cervical myelopathy. Patients were neurologically assessed pre- and postoperatively and outcome reported using the Modified Rankin Outcome score. Mean follow-up period was 22 months (range 6-120 months). Ten of the eleven patients had improvement in their postoperative assessment and one patient remained unchanged. CONCLUSION:
Myelopathy is the presenting symptom in the vast majority of these patients. Surgical resection and decompression of the neural structures can be an effective treatment for symptomatic atlantoaxial synovial cysts.
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Authors | Mark K Lyons, Barry Birch |
Journal | Turkish neurosurgery
(Turk Neurosurg)
Vol. 21
Issue 4
Pg. 483-8
( 2011)
ISSN: 1019-5149 [Print] Turkey |
PMID | 22194104
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Topics |
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Atlanto-Axial Joint
(pathology, surgery)
- Decompression, Surgical
(methods)
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mouth
(surgery)
- Retrospective Studies
- Spinal Cord Compression
(pathology, surgery)
- Spinal Fusion
(methods)
- Synovial Cyst
(pathology, surgery)
- Treatment Outcome
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