Surgical outcome and prognostic factors for 39 recurrent spinal hydatid cysts

BACKGROUND: Cystic bone echinococcosis accounts for 0.5–4% of all reported cases, and 45% occur in the spine. Our aim was to review the clinical and radiological features, surgery, and outcomes for 39 patients with recurrent spinal hydatidosis. METHODS: Thirty-nine reports of patients with recurrent spinal hydatidosis (2011–2020) were followed for an average of 9.28 ± 5.60 months. RESULTS: Lesions occurred in descending order in the; lumbar (48.7%), thoracic (43.6%), and cervical spine (7.7%). Total cyst resection was achieved in 28 of 39 patients (71.8%). Intraoperative cyst rupture occurred in 13 patients (33.3%). The postoperative American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score was “good” in 82% of patients. Those with “poor” postoperative ASIA scores had a 41% incidence of recurrent thoracic hydatid cysts; further, they demonstrated significantly higher recurrence rates if cysts had ruptured intraoperatively (P = 0.001). In addition, laminectomy, subtotal original cyst resection (P < 0.007), and a thoracic location were all significantly associated with higher recurrence rates (P < 0.04). CONCLUSION: The majority of patients demonstrated improvement following surgery for cervical hydatid cysts. Notably, those with poor outcomes typically experienced intraoperative ruptures of their thoracic hydatid cysts, contributing to high cyst recurrence rates.