Below is one research publication from Japan reporting on 9 patients.
They found that surgical treatment of Tarlov cysts may help relieve coccyx pain in some of the patients who had Tarlov cyst surgery.
Here is the link to the article at the Journal’s website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S187887501933195X?via%3Dihub
Below is the abstract: (Presented here as part of “Fair Use” for discussion, commentary, etc.)
World Neurosurg. 2020 Jan 10. pii: S1878-8750(19)33195-X. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.12.163. [Epub ahead of print]
Myelographic CT, a check-valve mechanism, and microsurgical treatment of sacral perineural Tarlov cysts.
Abstract
“OBJECTIVE:
There is currently no consensus regarding surgical indications for symptomatic sacral perineural cysts.
METHODS:
Nine patients with symptomatic sacral perineural cysts underwent microsurgery. All patients fulfilled the following criteria: (1) cyst sizes are larger than 15 mm; (2) cysts show the “delayed inflow” and/or “delayed outflow” of contrast on myelographic CT, and (3) neurological symptoms correlate with the primary cyst.
RESULTS:
On myelographic CT, all primary cysts showed the “delayed inflow” of contrast; the average cyst/thecal sac Hounsfield units (HU) ratio was 0.17. In 7 patients, the primary cyst showed “delayed outflow”; the average cyst/thecal sac HU ratio increased to 3.12 on images obtained 24 hours after contrast injection. Regarding modified Rankin Scale, 67% of patients reported that their overall symptoms improved to normal activities after surgery. The most improved symptom was coccydynia (75% improvement, p=0.017), followed by leg radiation pain (67% improvement, p=0.027) and buttock pain (50% improvement, p=0.068). Bowel/bladder dysfunction improved in 100% of patients, but newly developed in 1 patient (p=0.32). Perineal pain only decreased in 33% (p=0.41).
CONCLUSIONS:
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to have performed a quantitative analysis of the dynamics of CSF in sacral perineural cysts using myelographic CT. Sixty-seven percent of patients benefited from surgery; however, our criteria may not be a necessary and sufficient condition for patient selection because 33% did not respond to surgery despite the successful elimination of the check-valve.”
Dr. Foye’s comments:
- This was a small study, where there were only 9 patients.
- Still, it is important for reporting that in patients who had a Tarlov Cyst and coccydynia (coccyx pain, tailbone pain), surgery for the Tarlov Cyst apparently helped relieve the the tailbone pain in a significant percentage of those patients.
- So, for patients who have a Tarlov cyst and tailbone pain, if typical treatment for tailbone pain is not helping, the patient may want to consider Tarlov cyst surgery.
- COME FOR RELIEF: For more information on coccyx pain, or to be evaluated in-person at Dr. Foye’s Tailbone Pain Center in the United States, go to: www.TailboneDoctor.com
- – Patrick Foye, M.D., Director of the Coccyx Pain Center, New Jersey, United States.
His personable, private-practice office is located on a modern, renowned, academic medical school campus, at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
For an appointment, call 973-972-2802.
https://tailbonedoctor.com/
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