Lumbar Facet Joint Cyst Treated With Decompression and Interlaminar Stabilization

Abstract

Spinal facet joint cysts (FJCs) are an increasingly reported cause of lower back pain, radiculopathy, and neurological deficits owing to their proximity to adjacent nerve roots. The etiology of these cysts has not yet been fully elucidated, although they appear to be related to degenerative changes in the facet joints themselves. Conservative management strategies including physical therapy and oral analgesics rarely result in spontaneous regression of an FJC, often providing only short-term relief. The current treatment modalities reported for FJCs generally range from percutaneous cyst aspiration to decompression surgery with or without instrumented spinal fusion. However, instrumented fusion often results in a higher rate of complications such as pseudoarthrosis and adjacent segment disease. The Coflex(®) (Paradigm Spine, LLC, New York, NY) interlaminar stabilization (ILS) implant is a novel titanium, U-shaped device which acts as a motion-preserving stabilizer and has proven to be a viable alternative to instrumental fusion. Here, we discuss a case of an FJC treated with both decompression and placement of a Coflex ILS device.