title: Giant synovial cyst of knee treated arthroscopically through a cystic portal.
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.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, South Korea.
authors: Gautam M
authors: GM
authors: Shetty
authors: Joon Ho
authors: JH
authors: Wang
authors: Jin Hwan
authors: JH
authors: Ahn
authors: Yong Seuk
authors: YS
authors: Lee
authors: Yong Seok
authors: YS
authors: Lee
authors: Baek Hyun
authors: BH
authors: Kim
authors: Jae Gyoon
authors: JG
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: 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