Synovial Cyst of the Atlantoaxial Joint Removed through a Posterior Intradural Approach

Figure 5

Intraoperative findings. When the dura mater was incised at the C1-2 level, followed by incision in the denticulate ligaments on the right side of the spinal cord, a cystic lesion was present in the right C2 ventral root (arrowhead). The cyst (arrow), which caused compression and significant displacement of the cervical spinal cord from the right ventral side (a), was removed. The cyst capsule, however, seemed to remain in the ventral side and extend posterior to the odontoid process. We found that the dura mater was partly missing in the ventral side ((b) partially missing dura matter: arrowhead).

(a)

(b)