内視鏡下に切除した腰椎椎間関節囊腫の経験

Microendoscopic Medial Facetectomy for Lumbar Facet Cyst

　脊柱管内囊腫性病変のうち椎間関節近傍に発生する囊腫はこれまで様々な呼称での報告がある．今回椎間関節造影で交通が確認でき，再現痛のあった3例を腰椎椎間関節囊腫と診断して内視鏡下に切除した．全例神経根症状を呈し，術後に軽減，もしくは消失した．術後平均16カ月の現在，不安定性の進行や症状の再発を認めない．

　We report on three cases of lumbar intraspinal facet cysts treated by microendoscopic resection. The chief complaint in all three cases was radiculopathy, which was confirmed by a facetgram. A CT facetgram showed the connection between the degenerated facet joints and the cysts. Microendoscopic medial facetectomy was performed, and the cysts were resected. There was no increase in lumbar segmental instability, and the patients have been symptom-free for 13 to 20 months postoperatively.