title: Comparison of two procedures for meniscal cysts. A report of 35 patients with a mean follow-up of 33 months.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cause, pathogenesis, and appropriate treatment of meniscal cysts remain controversial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We wanted to evaluate the results of treatment of meniscal cysts with two different operative procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two different operative procedures were compared. Sixteen patients (group 1) had an open excision of the cyst performed in addition to arthroscopic examination of the knee. Nineteen patients (group 2) were treated entirely arthroscopically. The postoperative treatment course was the same for both groups. The mean length of follow-up was 33 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results were excellent or good in 86% of the patients (30 of 35) and were equally good for both procedures. Patients with degenerative changes of the knee joint seemed to have a less favorable outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Good or excellent results can be expected from either open or arthroscopic treatment of meniscal cysts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarimo
authors.forename: Petri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rainio
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rantanen
authors.forename: Sakari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orava
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000592:standards*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003560:Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome