Does this 21-year-old need a spinal fusion?
History
A 21-year-old male, with a previous history of low back pain, reported a marked increase in leg pain and related symptoms in the 3-month period prior to evaluation in our practice. He came to us through referral for an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) vs fusion at L5-S1.
At this time, he has significant right leg pain in the L5-S1 distribution with minimal low back pain. There is no history of bowel or bladder dysfunction, rash, lesion or known trauma.
The patient is gainfully employed in the construction industry and reports leg pain makes working difficult. He has no secondary gains and his family is very supportive.
Examination
The patient’s gait is slightly antalgic and he sits unloading his right buttock.
- Very positive straight-leg-raise on the right at 45-degrees. Left side is negative.
- No muscle wasting or atrophy.
- No long track signs (eg, hyperreflexia)
- No reflex asymmetry.
- Weakness only with right extensor hallucis longus.
Current and Prior Treatment
The patient completed months of physical therapy and uses non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications off and on.
About 6 months ago, he completed 2 midline epidural steroid injections with equivocal results. An L5-S1 facet joint block improved his low back pain but right pain development and has not resolved in more than 6 months.
Pre-treatment Imaging
Question/Answer: What would you do next with this patient?
- Discuss ORIF of the L5 pars fracture
- Discuss posterior instrumented fusion of L5-S1
- Re-image given the significant changes in presentation
- Continue to recommend further non-operative treatments
Answer: We elected to repeat imaging given the patient’s significant change in presentation. The family was very hesitant, as they were told he has a pars fracture and it must be the cause of his symptoms.
Keep in mind, the patient’s complaint was back pain up until several months ago when his back pain eased and leg pain significantly worsened.
The patient stated he can live with the low back ache, but not the right leg pain.
Question/Answer: What is the large structure now noted at L5-S1 on the right?
- Large synovial cyst
- Large herniated disc
- Meningocele
- MRI artifact
Selected Treatment
After a lengthy discussion, the patient underwent decompression of the right L5 and S1 nerve roots. The history of the pars fracture and low back pain was discussed vs the acute radiculopathy and new study findings.
Intraoperative findings demonstrated a large cystic structure impaling the right L5, S1 and cauda equina. The cystic structure was mostly comprised of viscous light bloody synovial-type fluid.
Immediately post-op, the patient reported resolution of his leg pain.
Outcome
At 4 weeks post-op, the patient had returned to normal activities with minimal complaints of low back pain and no recurrent radicular leg pain or related symptoms.
Peer Case Discussion
This is an interesting case that illustrates the conundrum of how to manage a bilateral spondylolysis in a young adult. I agree with the authors that the synovial cyst was the offending pathology in this case and indeed surgical correction of that abnormality, without addressing the pars defects, resulted in the expected good clinical outcome.
The question is now, what does the future hold for this patient, specifically will a symptomatic spondylolisthesis develop? A few risk factors have been identified to help predict those patients who may progress, including a high sacral slope, early disc degeneration, a concomitant scoliosis, and more than 2mm of bony separation across the defect. For those patients at risk, a direct pars repair, augmented with hooks or screws, has been shown to result in bony healing in 70-100% of patients. Based upon the above, the surgeons appear to have chosen a wise course for this patient.
Community Case Discussion (3 comments)
Very interesting case. While the patient is at risk for symptommatic spondylolisthesis, patients can have spondylolisthesis without having symptoms. If the patient develops symptoms in the future from the spondylolisthesis, conservative care should again be attempted prior to considering further surgical intervention.
Thank for sharing this interesting case for discussion .. I would like to commend you on your decision. Unfortunately, most surgeons jump to fusion when a pars defect is reported in the context of back pain. Indeed, there are many patients with asymptomatic or at least minimal symptoms which can be muscular. As in this patient, the new onset of leg pain is what made the patient seek further medical attention. Repeating new imaging was very helpful in this case although not easy to justify at all times unless there are a clearly new symptoms. Neural decompression was probably all what's needed in a 21year old with leg pain particularly if done through a minimally invasive technique to avoid further destabilization of the spondy. Was it sent to pathology?? proven to be a facet cyst?
Based on his age, and probable difficulty in self-limiting vigorous activity, I wonder if this is an lateral recess/extradural hematoma from the pars fracture line on the right. I'm not convinced this mass is a facet cyst based on the images provided. Also does not fit with his younger age and limited arthritic changes. Nevertheless, the rest of the MRI/CT sequences may be more revealing.
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