Radiculoplasty with reconstruction using 3D-printed artificial dura mater for the treatment of symptomatic sacral canal cysts: Two case reports

RATIONALE: Currently, interventional injection of albumin glue and nerve sleeve plasty by cyst excision is the main treatment for sacral cysts. However, albumin glue can only be used in patients with partial cystic neck stenosis, and surgical treatment may result in postoperative complications such as numbness and cyst recurrence. Here, a modified radiculoplasty is presented, in which the lamina is restored with the nerve root wrapped with 3-dimensional (3D)-printed artificial dura mater. PATIENT CONCERNS: The first patient, a 28-year-old man, had been complaining of aggravated perineal pain for 8 months a visual analog scale (VAS) score of 7. Sacrococcygeal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed multiple sacral canal cysts. The second case, a 48-year-old woman, has been complaining of lumbosacral and left leg pain for 1 month (VAS score of 7). Physical examination showed hyperalgesia below the right sacrum 2 level. Sacrococcygeal MRI and computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple sacral canal cysts and a calcified lesion in the cyst. DIAGNOSES AND INTERVENTION: The first patient underwent radiculoplasty with reconstruction using 3D-printed artificial dura mater, with 3 cysts treated and the lamina restored. Four cysts of the second patients were treated, including 1 bone-occupying lesion. Radiculoplasty with reconstruction using 3D-printed artificial dura mater was used for the cysts and the lamina was restored OUTCOMES: The postoperative VAS score was 0 to 2 points in the 2 patients. No postoperative infection or new neurological dysfunction was observed. Postoperative MRI showed no cysts, with lamina restoration. After 6 months, the VAS score was 0, and MRI showed no recurrence. LESSONS: Radiculoplasty with reconstruction using 3D-printed artificial dura mater and lamina restoration could be beneficial for the treatment of symptomatic sacral canal cysts.