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Och Spine Services

Diagnosis & Treatment

Synovial Cyst

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How is a Synovial Cyst on the Spine Diagnosed?

Diagnosis

Synovial cysts on the spine are sometimes not detected until a patient experiences symptoms such as lower back pain and leg cramps. Your doctor may order advancing imaging of the lumbar region of the spine to properly diagnose, monitor, and treat your condition.

  • X-ray may be used to rule out other conditions, such as lumbar spondylosis and spinal tumors .
  • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may be used to determine the cyst size and location and to show a clear image of your tissues and bones.
  • CT scan (computerized tomography) takes cross-section images of the body to determine the cyst density and location on the spine.

How is a Synovial Cyst on the Spine Treated?

Treatment

Synovial cysts on the spine are treated with both nonsurgical approaches and surgical options, depending upon the severity of your symptoms and the location and size of the spinal cyst.

The best way to remove a spine synovial cyst will depend on your specific symptoms and needs, so it’s important to see a doctor to discuss your personal health and get care. NewYork-Presbyterian’s experienced healthcare providers offer both surgical and nonsurgical care for synovial cysts of the spine.

Nonsurgical treatment

  • Medications to reduce inflammation and relieve pain
  • Steroid injections may be used for temporary pain relief
  • Physical therapy, using gentle exercises to reduce discomfort
  • Facet injection, a needle used to drain the cyst and ease symptoms

Surgical procedures 

  • Lumbar fusion may be performed to join or fuse the joints of the spine together after the cyst is removed to prevent the cyst from forming again.
  • Minimally invasive synovial cyst resection/decompression may be performed to drain or remove the cyst and decompress the nerve to reduce pain and discomfort, without affecting the facet joint/bone.

FAQs

FAQs

Certain surgical procedures, such as lumbar fusion and synovial cyst resectioning, are used to remove a cyst from the spine. Depending upon the location and size of your cysts, your physician may also offer other nonsurgical treatments. Since a synovial cyst on the spine is a noncancerous lesion, it may not need to be removed.

The average size of a lumbar synovial cyst is less than 1.5 cm, but a cyst can become larger and cause nerve compression, discomfort, and pain.

A synovial cyst on the spine may become serious based on the size and location of the cyst. Large cysts can cause cauda equina syndrome, a serious condition caused by compressed nerves in the spinal canal, and may lead to decreased sensory and reflex functioning and pain. It is important to see a qualified spine specialist to discuss your treatment options.

Many spine synovial cysts can be relieved with conservative treatments such as medication, pain treatment, rest, and physical therapy. Your doctor may recommend that your cyst is drained to make it go away. In some individuals, cysts may reform and surgical intervention may be necessary.

There are several treatment options, ranging from nonsurgical inventions, such as medication, to minimally invasive surgery for a synovial cyst lumbar. The best way to get care and treat symptoms of synovial cysts of the spine is by seeing an experienced doctor or spine specialist.

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Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Synovial Cyst Treatment

At NewYork-Presbyterian, our spine specialists and dedicated team of doctors diagnose and treat synovial cysts of the spine using advanced imaging and the latest techniques and medical approaches to reduce pain and improve mobility.

It is important to know the symptoms of spine synovial cysts and to understand the risk factors associated with the condition. Make an appointment with a New York-Presbyterian spine specialist today.