How I do it? Transforaminal endoscopic decompression of intraspinal facet cyst.

BACKGROUND

Transforaminal endoscopic surgery provides equivalent results to open surgery with added advantages of feasibility under local anesthesia, no injury to posterior elements, preservation of the ligamentum flavum, ease of revision surgery, and cost-effectiveness. The technique of transforaminal endoscopic excision of cysts of facet or zygapophyseal joints is scarcely described in literature.

METHODS

The transforaminal endoscopy is applicable to cyst lying in the extraforaminal, foraminal, and intraspinal regions. The "mobile" outside-in technique combined with osteotomy of the tip of the superior articular process facilitates intraspinal access for complete decompression.

CONCLUSION

Transforaminal endoscopic removal of the facet cyst is a viable alternative to traditional open surgery with added advantages of a minimal access procedure.