Popliteal Cysts and Their Relation to the Gastrocnemio-Semimembranosus Bursa: Studies on the Surgical and Functional Anatomy

Popliteal Cysts (Baker's Cysts) in Adults:II. Capsuloplasty With and Without a Pedicle Graft

“…A modified approach to the deep portion of the cyst was worked out in earlier morphological studies (Rauschning 1979). This was applied in all operations and rendered optimal access for suturing of the capsular opening.…”

“…She was operated on in the supine position, which impeded optimal access to the communication. The postoperative swelling of her wound and the low-grade fever might be attributable to extravasation of synovial fluid from the joint, since the opening was not successfully closed (Rauschning & Lindgren 1979 Figures 3 and 4) a reinforcement capsuloplasty was introduced. Studies of the surgical anatomy had verified that the postero-medial capsule is thin immediately distal to the slit-shaped opening and that the site of communication is subject to capsular tearing forces on active flexion and rotation of the knee.…”

“…The patients in Series A were examined by a simple arthrography a s described previously (Rauschning & Lindgren 1979). There were three recurrences (Table 1).…”

“…In a recent clinical and radiographic follow-up examination of 41 routinely excised popliteal cysts, 15 postoperative complications and 40 recurrences were found (Rauschning & Lindgren 1979). This paper describes a modified surgical approach and operative technique: In an earlier series (Series A), the communication was tightly sutured, and in Series B a newly developed reinforcement capsuloplasty w a s sustained during sports.…”

“…T h e prevailing opinion, however, is that they are fluiddistended communicating gastrocnemiosemimembranosus bursae (Gristina & Wilson 1964, Goldstein & Dickerson 1974, Smillie 1974, Lindgren 1978, Rauschning 1979.…”