• Hong Wang, Shuang Wang, Hailong Yu, Yu Chen, Liang Zheng, and Junxiong Ma.
• Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command of Chinese PLA, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Nov 11; 101 (45): e31756e31756.

IntroductionPostoperative discal pseudocyst (PDP) is rare. Few studies have reported on the recurrence of PDPs, and there is a lack of understanding of their clinical features and treatment methods. This study discusses the clinical characteristics and treatment of recurrent PDPs.Patient ConcernsA 25-year-old man presented with radiating pain and numbness in the lateral left calf and dorsum of the foot.DiagnosisPostoperative discal pseudocyst.InterventionsHe underwent lumbar discectomy, which provided immediate postoperative relief. However, the symptoms recurred 45 days later. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a lesion compressing the dura and nerve roots at the site of the previous surgery. The lesion appeared hypointense on T1-weighted imaging and hyperintense on T2-weighted imaging. The patient was treated conservatively for 1 month without significant relief. He then underwent lumbar discectomy and cyst removal, which immediately relieved his symptoms. However, 27 days later, the patient again developed the same symptoms. MRI examination showed recurrence of PDP. As 1 month of conservative treatment failed to relieve the patient's symptoms, we performed posterior instrumented lumbar fusion and cyst removal.OutcomesThe patient's symptoms disappeared, and have not recurred for 1 year at the time of writing.ConclusionsPDP is a rare complication of lumbar discectomy. Repeat lumbar discectomy can effectively treat PDP, but the cyst can recur. We, for the first time, used posterior instrumented lumbar fusion to successfully treat recurrent PDP.Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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