A Technical Note on Alternating Laminectomies Plus Folding Cystectomy: A Novel Technique for Spinal Arachnoid Cyst

We report the case of a 33-year-old male patient with no past medical history presenting to our tertiary referral center with progressive (two years) deficit of lower limb motor impairment (2/5 Medical Research Council [MRC] scale) and sensory impairment. T2- and T1-weighted MRI images clarified the nature of the cyst from T3 to T8. In our case, surgical management was warranted to relieve tension over the spinal cord, thus improving symptoms. Two multilevel laminectomies were performed, one centered on the proximal pole and the other on the distal pole; subsequently, the epidural cyst was gradually folded until it was totally extracted without complications. In the present study, we discuss a technique of extended spinal compressive arachnoid cyst. To the best of our knowledge, this technique has not been previously described in the existing body of literature. Here, we present a case of a successful procedure that seems both efficient and safe. Further study will be required to confirm its safety and efficacy.