Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment of Lumbar Synovial Cysts

Abstract

Synovial cysts can be effectively treated with a tubular retractor system in conjunction with an endoscope or microscope. Use of the tubular retractor minimizes soft-tissue trauma, incision length, blood loss, and disruption of ligamentous and bony structures. This may be particularly significant when synovial cysts are associated with spondylolisthesis, minimizing the risk of progressive instability and the need for fusion.