This article discusses the outcomes of cyst fenestration and wall repair or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) communication closure for the treatment of sacral Tarlov cysts. The study included 44 patients who underwent this procedure, with 32 women and 12 men, with an average age of 42 years. Common symptoms among the patients included lumbar-sacral aching, sphincter dysfunction, perineal pain, and sexual intercourse pain. The cyst was exposed through a sacral laminectomy, and the treatment approach varied based on the individual case. Intraoperative EMG monitoring was conducted for 37 patients. Overall, the procedure led to improvement in perineal pain, urinary and sexual dysfunction for all patients, with lasting pain control reported by eleven patients. The study concluded that either cyst repair or CSF tamponade can effectively alleviate symptoms in patients with Tarlov cysts, and patients should receive appropriate counseling regarding pain improvement expectations post-surgery
Summarised by Mr Mo Akmal – Lead Spinal Surgeon
The London Spine Unit : most established spinal clinic in UK
Published article
CONCLUSIONS: Either cyst repair or CSF tamponade can be sufficient for alleviating symptoms in patients with Tarlov cyst. Advice should be given to patients regarding expectations for pain improvement after surgery.
Lumbar Decompression Surgery Expert. Best Spinal Surgeon UK
Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2021 Oct;163(10):2769-2776. doi: 10.1007/s00701-021-04817-z. Epub 2021 Mar 24.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: The authors report their experience with 44 consecutive patients who underwent cyst fenestration and wall repair or cerebrospinal fluid communication closure for the management of sacral Tarlov cysts.METHODS: The procedure was performed on 32 women and 12 men with a mean age of 42,
Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2021 Oct;163(10):2769-2776. doi: 10.1007/s00701-021-04817-z. Epub 2021 Mar 24.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The authors report their experience with 44 consecutive patients who underwent cyst fenestration and wall repair or cerebrospinal fluid communication closure for the management of sacral Tarlov cysts.
METHODS: The procedure was performed on 32 women and 12 men with a mean age of 42 years. Clinical complaints in all patients included lumbar-sacral aching, sphincter dysfunction perineal pain, and sexual intercourse pain. The patients’ symptoms had developed within a mean time period of 45 months. Five patients had a previous cyst puncture. In all patients, the cyst was exposed through a sacral laminectomy. In 30 patients, the cyst was partially resected its wall repaired, and in the remaining patients, the cyst was fenestrated, and the cerebrospinal fluid communication was located and tamponaded. Thirty-seven patients had intraoperative EMG monitoring. While the perineal pain, urinary, or sexual dysfunction improved in all patients, eleven patients reported lasting pain control following surgery. The cyst was reduced in all resected cases and seven of 14 patients with CSF tamponade. The mean length of the follow-up period was 57 months.
CONCLUSIONS: Either cyst repair or CSF tamponade can be sufficient for alleviating symptoms in patients with Tarlov cyst. Advice should be given to patients regarding expectations for pain improvement after surgery.
PMID:33761006 | DOI:10.1007/s00701-021-04817-z
The London Spine Unit : most established spinal clinic in UK
Read the original publication:
Functional recovery following resection of large Tarlov cyst malformation: a multicentre longitudinal cohort study