Diagnostic challenge: Bilateral infected lumbar facet cysts - a rare cause of acute lumbar spinal stenosis and back pain

Abstract

Symptomatic synovial lumbar facet cysts are a relatively rare cause of radiculopathy and spinal stenosis. This case and brief review of the literature, details a patient who presented with acutely symptomatic bilateral spontaneously infected synovial facet (L4/5) cysts. This report highlights diagnostic clues for identifying infection of a facet cyst. © 2010 Freedman et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.