Cervical Facet Cyst Causing Progressive Paraplegia: A Case Report and Review of Literature.
10.4184/jkss.2011.18.1.29
- Author:
Hyoung Yeon SEO
1
;
Jae Yoon CHUNG
;
Gi Heon PARK
;
Young Joo SHIN
Author Information
1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea. hyseo2001@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Facet cyst;
Cervical spine;
Progressive paraplegia
- MeSH:
Canes;
Follow-Up Studies;
Hip;
Humans;
Hypesthesia;
Intervertebral Disc;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Male;
Nipples;
Paraplegia;
Physical Examination;
Recurrence;
Spinal Cord Compression;
Spinal Cord Diseases;
Spine;
Synovial Cyst;
Wheelchairs;
Zygapophyseal Joint
- From:Journal of Korean Society of Spine Surgery
2011;18(1):29-33
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
STUDY DESIGN: A case report and literature review. OBJECTIVES: To report a patient with a cervical facet cyst causing progressive paraplegia, and to review the clinical features, treatment and outcomes of a cervical facetal cyst. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Extradural intraspinal synovial cysts of the cervical spine are quite rare. They typically occur in the cervical region at the C1-C2 junction or in the space adjacent to the facet joints in the lower cervical spine, and show similar clinical features to the intervertebral disc protrusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This article reports a case of a male patient, 64 years old, who presented with a 2 day history of numbness below the nipple and progressive paraplegia. A physical examination at admission revealed a wheelchair ambulatory state due to a motor deficit (motor grade good) below both hip flexors. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine showed an extradural lesion with a left lateral extension between C7 and T1, causing spinal cord compression. The patient underwent a hemi-laminectomy of C7 and complete cyst excision through the posterior approach. His motor power improved to almost normal. RESULTS: The patient showed good recovery of myelopathy, and he was able to walk with a cane 3 months after surgery. A 1 year follow-up did not reveal any recurrence or new neurological conditions. CONCLUSION: Cervical facet cysts are rare lesions that are occasionally signaled by progressive paraplegia but can be treated successfully by a surgical excision.