Published in:
01-02-2008 | Knee
Giant synovial cyst of knee treated arthroscopically through a cystic portal
Authors:
Gautam M. Shetty, Joon Ho Wang, Jin Hwan Ahn, Yong Seok Lee, Baek Hyun Kim, Jae Gyoon Kim
Published in:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy
|
Issue 2/2008
Login to get access
Abstract
Synovial cysts are well-defined fluid filled cysts that can extend for a variable distance outside the joint space. These cysts can sometimes grow to a large size making its treatment challenging especially when associated with intra-articular pathologies.We describe a case of giant synovial cyst arising from the left knee and extending to the medial proximal calf in a 77-year old female who presented with knee joint pain, episodes of locking and calf mass occurring within 2 months of onset. Imaging studies also showed associated medial and lateral meniscal tears with medial compartment and patellofemoral osteoarthritis. The cyst was treated by disrupting the valvular mechanism using a standard posteromedial portal and complete excision of the cyst wall via a posteromedial cystic portal. The meniscal lesions were dealt with through the standard anterior portals. At 25-month follow up there were no signs of recurrence of the cyst clinically or with MRI. The cystic portal technique is effective in treating a giant synovial cyst of the knee even in the presence of meniscal tears and high grade chondral lesions.