Efficacy of Fluoroscopy-Guided Lumbar Facet Joint Synovial Cyst Rupture with Intra-Articular Steroid Injection after Laminectomy

• Published in: Taehan Yŏngsang Ŭihakhoe chi Vol. 82; no. 1; pp. 162 - 172
• Main Authors: Kim, Hyo Jin, Lee, Eugene, Lee, Joon Woo, Kang, Yusuhn, Ahn, Joong Mo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Korean Society of Radiology 2021
• Subjects: fluoroscopy; laminectomy; Musculoskeletal Imaging; radiculopathy; spine; synovial cyst
• ISSN: 1738-2637; 2288-2928
• DOI: 10.3348/jksr.2019.0184

Purpose We retrospectively evaluated the technical success rate and long-term efficacy of fluoroscopy- guided synovial cyst rupture followed by an intra-articular steroid injection at the post-laminectomy lumbar facet. Materials and Methods We selected subjects who had undergone a fluoroscopy-guided synovial cyst rupture with simultaneous intra-articular steroid injection within 6 months of MRI and demonstrated a symptomatic facet joint synovial cyst at the level of a previous lumbar laminectomy. Fourteen patients were enrolled, and we determined whether cyst rupture and symptom improvement were achieved after each procedure. The degrees of symptom improvement were categorized into 4: 1) symptoms improved (30% or more reduction, based on pre-procedural and post-procedural Numerical Pain Rating Scale scores), 2) symptoms not improved, 3) patient underwent surgery after injection, and 4) loss of follow-up. Results The success rate of percutaneous synovial cyst rupture decreased with repeated procedures (62.5% for the first procedure and 0% to 33.3% for additional procedures). However, 80% of the patients had symptom improvement with the procedures, overall. The surgery rate was 14.3% in 14 patients. Conclusion For patients with post-laminectomy symptomatic lumbar facet joint synovial cysts, fluoroscopy-guided synovial cyst rupture with intra-articular steroid injection may be an effective and less invasive treatment before considering a surgical approach.