両側発生の腰椎椎間関節囊腫に対し内視鏡下片側進入両側摘出術を行った1例

Bilateral Lumbar Facet Cysts Which Could be Resected via the Unilateral Approach Using the METRx-MED System : A Case Report

　今回われわれは，両側発生の腰椎椎間節囊腫に対し内視鏡下に片側進入により両側の摘出術を行ったので報告する．症例は67歳の男性で，腰痛と右下肢痛を主訴に来院し，保存的加療に治療抵抗性を示したため，脊椎内視鏡による手術加療を行った．結果，症状は著明に改善し術後5日で独歩退院となった．今回は脊椎内視鏡を用いた片側進入による両側徐圧のテクニックを駆使して両側の椎間関節囊腫の摘出を行ったが，本法を用いることで低襲侵に椎間関節囊腫の摘出が可能であった．

　We report a case of bilateral lumbar facet cysts that was surgically treated using the METRx-MED system.　The patient was a 67-year-old man who presented with low back pain and severe right leg pain.　He had undergone conservative treatment, but it was futile.　Therefore, he underwent surgery, after which the symptoms completely resolved.　The length of postoperative hospital stay was 5 days.　The patient was treated via the unilateral approach and bilateral decompression by using the METRx-MED system, and the bilateral facet cysts were completely resected.　In conclusion, bilateral synovial cysts could be resected via the unilateral approach by using a microendoscopic technique.