A Smaller Procedure for Facet Cysts
Isolated decompression looked good in a new large-database study, but a single-center study from a couple years ago provides a nice counterbalance
What’s the Claim?
A large-database study based on the PearlDiver Mariner system — which captures a mix of commercial and federal payers — found that 6.8% of patients who underwent isolated laminectomy (without fusion) for lumbar facet cysts went on to a subsequent lumbar fusion within 5 years. About two-thirds of those had their revision procedure within 2 years of the index laminectomy for the facet cyst.
