Arthroscopic treatment of meniscal cysts

Abstract

In a series of 1160 arthroscopies we found 16 meniscal cysts; 12 involved the lateraljoint line and two the medial, and two were intra-articular. In all but two cases, arthroscopy showed memscal tears. We recommend arthroscopy of all cases to correct the meniscal lesion, and to evacuate the cyst into the joint by opening the joint capsule. This was successful in 12 cases, with no recurrence after an average follow-up of 18 months. Only two patients with no meniscal lesion on arthroscopy required an additional external incision for cyst removal.

Meniscal Cysts: Treatment Options and Algorithm

“…Numerous case series have been reported in which meniscal cysts were decompressed through the horizontal meniscal tear by means of arthroscopic meniscal debridement and the insertion of probes or shavers through the tear into the cyst cavity. [8][9][10][11][12][13] In most of the series, there were no cyst recurrences. A large amount of data exists which support the initial treatment of meniscal cysts with arthroscopic decompression followed by arthroscopic treatment of the meniscal tear.…”

“…9 Passler et al reported only 2 medial meniscal cysts in a series of 14 cysts found in an arthroscopic case series of 1,160 knee arthroscopies. 13 With the introduction of the MRI, the recognition of asymptomatic meniscal cysts lead to several published studies on this subject. These MRI studies report a general incidence of meniscal cysts ranging from 4 17,18 to 7.9%.…”

“…6,7 Symptomatic meniscal cysts, usually located on the lateral side of the knee, were considered uncommon occurrences through the 1980s and 1990s. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Then, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based evidence was presented suggesting that meniscal cysts were not only more common than previously appreciated but more likely to occur on the medial side of the knee. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20] This literature review outlines the current data about meniscal cysts and describes the available management options available to the orthopedic surgeon.…”

Sonographic appearances of meniscal cysts

“…Treatment of the meniscal lesion may be performed arthroscopically, with decompression of the cyst into the joint 20,21 or with combined percutaneous needle puncture, 22 or by open operation. 23 The diagnosis of meniscal cyst may be suspected clinically.…”

Parameniscal cyst formation in the knee is associated with meniscal tear size: An MRI study

“…Surgeons have become more aware of the association between these cysts and meniscal tears, and their surgical approach must address both the meniscal tear and the excision or decompression of the cyst to avoid its recurrence [7][8][9][10][11]. One large prospective cohort study demonstrated that meniscal damage was not directly linked to the development of knee symptoms in middle-aged patients [12].…”