Objective: Our aim was to study the outcomes and results of surgically treated patients with synovial cysts of the lumbar spine in our institution. Methods: Retrospective data from 39 consecutive patients, treated during the period of December 1996 to August 2004, were analyzed. Twenty-eight men (70%) and 11 women (30%) of mean age 63.3 years were studied. All pre-and postoperative signs, symptoms, extension/flexion radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT)

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... or without myelography were reviewed. All underwent surgery for synovial cysts with excision and decompression. Additional fusion in 26 patients was performed; 22 of them had degenerative spinal spondylolisthesis. Nine (23%) patients had prior decompression procedures, with three (8%) having had prior spinal instrumentation. Surgical outcomes were evaluated according to a questionnaire scoring system (scale of 1-4; 4 = excellent, 3 = good, 2 = fair, 1 = poor). Various preoperative attributes such as gender, age, weight, and height were analyzed to see if they had any effect on the outcome of surgery. Modified musculoskeletal outcomes data evaluation and management system (MODEM), questionnaire was provided to all; 24 (62%) responded. The following categories were determined: excellent (,20), very good (21-40), good (41-60), fair (61-80), and poor (81-100). Postoperative complications were also recorded.