Surgical treatment of popliteal cyst: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

BackgroundThis systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical efficacy of different surgical methods in the therapy of popliteal cysts may provide evidence about effective surgical treatments.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, and OVID were searched with the following terms: (popliteal cyst* OR baker’s cyst*) AND (arthroscopic OR excision OR operative OR treat* OR surgery). Inclusion criteria included the following: studies reported the efficacy of different surgical methods in popliteal cyst patients; patients were ≥16 years; and studies must have involved a minimum of 10 patients. Studies were grouped according to the surgical methods, and a meta-analysis was employed to identify the success rate based on the pooled data.ResultsA total of 11 studies were included: The communication between the cyst and the articular cavity was enlarged in 7 studies; this communication was closed in 3 studies; and only intra-articular lesions were managed in 1 study. After the data were pooled, the success rates were 96.7 and 84.6 % in the communication-enlargement group and communication-closure group, respectively. Studies with communication enlargement were subgrouped into the cyst wall resection group and the non-cyst wall resection group, for which the success rates were 98.2 and 94.7 %, respectively.ConclusionsBased on the current available evidence, at present, any how arthroscopic excision of the cyst wall, arthroscopic management of intra-articular lesions, and enlarging the communication between the cyst and the articular cavity is an ideal strategy for the popliteal cyst. The current literature on the treatment of popliteal cysts is limited to retrospective case series. Future prospective studies with high-quality methodology and uniform scoring system are required to directly compare communication-enlargement surgery and communication-closure surgery and determine the optimal treatment of popliteal cysts. Cyst wall resection may improve the therapeutic efficacy, to draw definitive conclusions, and high-level clinical researches with a large number of patients and long-term follow-up should be initiated.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Popliteal Cysts with and without Cystectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The pooled results showed that the OR of unsuccessful clinical outcomes (RL grade ≥2) was greater in the cystectomy group than in the non-cystectomy group with 122.05 (p<0.001) and 58.12 (p<0.001), respectively. Similar results were shown in a previous systematic review/meta-analysis by Zhou et al 21) . They found a success rate of 98.2% after cyst wall resection and the rate was 94.7% without cyst wall resection; however, their review included open surgical excision procedures.…”

“…Interestingly, none of the published studies directly compared clinical outcomes of arthroscopic valve debridement with and without cystectomy. There was a previous systematic review reported by Zhou et al 21) , which investigated open surgical excision procedures without comparison of complication and recurrence rates. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare clinical outcomes and complication and recurrence rates after arthroscopic treatment of popliteal cysts with and without cystectomy.…”

Repair of isolated horizontal meniscal tears with all-inside suture materials using the overlock method: outcome study with a minimum 2-year follow-up

“…Horizontal meniscus tears are traumatic and degenerative tears of the structure [3]. These tears are generally in the zones 3 and 4 posterior of the medial meniscus and, by progressing to the meniscocapsular region, can cause parameniscal cysts to form [4, 5]. The meniscus splits into two layers.…”

Compression neuropathy of common peroneal nerve caused by a popliteal cyst

“…The final diagnosis is established by aspiration of the palpated mass, which is much easier when the swelling is large. [ 10 ]…”