Regrowing Synovial Chondromatosis in a Cervical Facet Joint with Radiculopathy

Abstract

Synovial chondromatosis (SC) in the spine is rare. There are few reports of associated cervical radiculopathy and there has not been a case reported of regrowing cervical SC. Here we report a 21-year-old man with a SC of a cervical facet joint that extended into the intervertebral foramen and compressed the cervical nerve root. The same symptom developed three years following the first operation. Computed tomography (CT) scans and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed multiple calcified nodules anterior to the right facet joint of C6-7 that extended into the intervertebral foramen. A mass removal was performed just as in the previous operation with a subtotal facetectomy. When vertebral SC is suspected, complete removal involving the bone and synovium should be considered as the standard treatment option.