Neck transfixion for sacral extradural spinal meningeal cysts without spinal nerve root fibers.

Purpose: This prospective study analyzes clinical characteristics and outcomes of sacral extradural spinal meningeal cysts (SESMC) without spinal nerve root fibers (SNRF) undergoing neck transfixion.

Methods: Using the relationship between the cysts and SNRF, SESMCs were divided into two types: cysts with SNRF known as Tarlov cysts and cysts without. If the SESMCs were identified as those without SNRFs, the neck of the cyst was transfixed, ligated and the remaining cyst wall removed distal to the clip.

Comparative outcomes of the two types of sacral extradural spinal meningeal cysts using different operation methods: a prospective clinical study.

This prospective study compares different clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with two types of sacral extradural spinal meningeal cysts (SESMC) undergoing different means of surgical excision. Using the relationship between the cysts and spinal nerve roots fibers (SNRF) as seen under microscope, SESMCs were divided into two types: cysts with SNRF known as Tarlov cysts and cysts without. The surgical methods were tailored to the different types of SESMCs.

Reconstruction of nerve root sheaths for sacral extradural spinal meningeal cysts with spinal nerve root fibers.

This study analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of sacral extradural spinal meningeal cysts with spinal nerve root fibers treated by reconstruction of the nerve root sheaths. The relationships between the cysts and spinal nerve root fibers were examined microscopically, the cysts were partially excised, and the defects were oversewn to reconstruct the nerve root sheaths. The Improved Japanese Orthopedic Association (IJOA) scoring system was used to evaluate preoperative and postoperative neurological function.