Giant synovial cyst of knee treated arthroscopically through a cystic portal

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2008 Feb;16(2):175-8. doi: 10.1007/s00167-007-0405-x. Epub 2007 Sep 26.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arthroscopy / methods*
  • Cartilage Diseases / pathology
  • Cartilage Diseases / surgery
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint / surgery*
  • Menisci, Tibial / surgery
  • Synovial Cyst / surgery*
  • Tibial Meniscus Injuries