Giant synovial cyst of knee treated arthroscopically through a cystic portal.
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.
Shetty
Gautam M
GM
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, South Korea.
Wang
Joon Ho
JH
Ahn
Jin Hwan
JH
Lee
Yong Seuk
YS
Lee
Yong Seok
YS
Kim
Baek Hyun
BH
Kim
Jae Gyoon
JG
D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery; D013581:Synovial Cyst / Q000601:surgery*; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries