Surgical Management of Multi-Level Cervical Spine Synovial Chondromatosis

Cervical synovial chondromatosis is a benign condition which most commonly affects the knee joint. The involvement of the spinal column is rare, with only a few reports in the literature describing surgical treatment for compressive spinal lesions. Given the rarity of this condition, the best treatment methodology is yet to be established. We describe the case of a 38-year-old female who presented with progressively worsening myeloradicular symptoms localizing to the cervical spinal cord. Imaging revealed a multilevel osseous and epidural lesion involving the subaxial cervical spine. A computed tomography-guided biopsy was performed to obtain a diagnosis to aid further treatment planning. Subsequently, surgical decompression and stabilization were performed after which the patient made an excellent recovery. She continues to do well at 2 years follow-up. Cervical synovial chondromatosis is a rare condition which can present with pain, radiculopathy, and/or myelopathy. Surgical treatment should focus on complete resection, decompression, and stabilization with arthrodesis and fusion to prevent recurrence. We propose that the lack of motion provided by stabilization and fusion after gross total resection prevents disease recurrence.