Treatment of parameniscal cyst with arthroscopic intra-articular decompression

Abstract:

Objective：To investigate the results of arthroscopic treatment of parameniscal cyst（PC） with intra-articular decompression of cyst and meniscectomy or suture. Methods：From January 2009 to December 2011，22 cases of parameniscal cyst were treated by arthroscopy with intra-articular decompression of cysts and meniscectomy or suture，including 14 males and 8 females，with an aver－age age of 32.7 years（ranging from 22 to 51 years）. Twelve patients suffered in left knees，10 in right ones. Eighteen cases had trau－ma history and the others had no obvious predisposing causes. The average disease duration was 5.2 months（ranging from 3 to 12 months）. Before the operation，the Lysholm score was 60.03±4.89 and the International Knee Documentation Committee（IKDC） sub－jective evaluation score was 64.25±4.22. Four patients had medial parameniscal cyst and 18 patients had lateral parameniscal cyst．There were 7 cysts in meniscal anterior horn，14 cysts in meniscal body and 1 cyst in meniscal posterior horn；all being single cyst and 5 being multilocular cyst. Results：All incisions healed by the first intention without complication. All patients were followed up for 12 to 24 months with an average of 14.5 months. Preoperative symptoms disappeared or reduced and the range of motion of the knee returned to normal. The Lysholm knee score and IKDC subjective evaluation score were significantly increased to 87.20 ± 4.65 and 90.86 ± 3.58 at 1 year after the operation（P<0.05）. According to assessment standard described by Glasgow，the treatment out－come was excellent in 16 cases，good in 5 cases and general in 1 case；the excellent and good rate was 95.45%. No recurrence was found during the follow-up. Conclusion：Arthroscopic management of paramenical cyst with intra-articular decompression of cyst and meniscectomy or suture results in a good clinical outcome with minor invasion and rapid recovery.