Baker's cyst

Autor: Andrzej Grupa
Date added 26.12.2024
Date of last revision 26.12.2024

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At the end of the 19th century, British orthopedist William Morrant Baker described an issue related to the presence of a space filled with joint fluid in the popliteal fossa. From his name today it is known as Baker's cyst. The condition also goes by the name of Baker's cyst and as popliteal fossa cyst. On examination by an orthopedist, a Baker's cyst is fairly simple to detect - it is something like a small tumor in the popliteal region. However, it is not a cancerous lesion, and it does not become malignant. It usually appears between the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle and the semimembranosus muscle.

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What is a Baker's cyst - causes of formation.

A Baker's cyst is most often the result of a disease inside the knee - overload, mechanical trauma, degeneration, inflammation; which leads to increased production of joint fluid. At the site of reduced resistance, which is the posterior capsule of the joint, it finds an outlet and a cyst forms. Hence the terms often appear: cyst under the knee, cyst in the knee or cyst under the knee at the back.

What are the symptoms of a Baker's cyst?

If there is pain under the knee, it is worthwhile to visit an orthopedic clinic - a specialist in a palpation examination should immediately locate the tumor, which is usually associated with another pathology inside the joint. Very often, however, the Baker's cyst itself does not cause pain, nor does it impede daily functioning. If you do not feel such symptoms in yourself, but find such a protrusion in the posterior-medial part of the knee joint, it is also worth seeking advice from an orthopedist.

This is because procrastination means that the popliteal fossa cyst may begin to enlarge, and the pain will eventually appear and begin to worsen, especially knee pain when bending. It can then become more pronounced when walking, straightening and bending the knee. In extreme cases, the cyst under the knee may rupture - the result is a burning pain in the calf area. Sensory disturbances and numbness in the calf then occur.

Baker's cyst - diagnosis

As we have already mentioned, the diagnosis of a Baker's cyst is made after palpation during a visit to an orthopedic clinic. The doctor is able to trace the nodule, and to confirm his diagnosis - he recommends an ultrasound of the knee joint. It usually confirms the appearance of a cyst. However, to find the cause of its formation, it is necessary to perform an MRI of the knee joint and look for damage to the meniscus, cartilage or ligaments. A cyst under the back of the knee is most often a symptom of pathology in the knee joint, not a disease in itself.

How to treat a Baker's cyst?

If there is no pathology on MRI and no complaints from the cyst, surgical treatment can be abandoned, in which case conservative treatment is used. If the cyst in the knee is small and does not cause great pain, muscle strengthening of the knee should be a sufficient therapeutic option. The orthopedist usually recommends working under the supervision of a physiotherapist - together they will determine what exercises the patient should do. Periodic relief of the knee in case of exacerbations, cooling of the joint, anti-inflammatory drugs should be helpful in exacerbation of the condition. What medications for Baker's cyst, can ointments or painkillers be used? It is the orthopedist who will decide.

Puncturing, incising the cyst, dropping large amounts of fluid from it, are treatments that provide very short-term relief and are ineffective in the long term.

Baker's cyst - surgical treatment

Surgical treatment must be focused primarily on curing the joint pathology causing the Baker's cyst, be it cartilage, meniscus or ligament damage. Most often, arthroscopy of the knee joint is required. During this procedure, the cyst under the knee must also be removed, whether by open or arthroscopic methods. Nowadays, in the vast majority of cases, it is not necessary to cut the skin at the back of the knee and openly remove the cyst, it can be done from the same surgical approaches as for arthroscopy, without the need for an additional skin cut. Only by treating the joint pathology causing the cyst to form in the knee and resecting it will there be a chance of a complete recovery.

Baker's cyst - rehabilitation

After surgical treatment of the condition, the patient usually leaves the hospital the very next day. Before this happens, he should receive basic recommendations from the doctor regarding hygiene of the operated site (the cyst in the knee will no longer bother him), the use of painkillers or exercise. What Baker's cyst medications to use at this stage? This will be communicated by the orthopedist, while scheduling a post-operative appointment.

It is sometimes advisable to consult a physiotherapist and the process of returning to full function under his care. The period of limited function of the lower limb can usually last several weeks. In counteracting the formation of Baker's cysts, it is important to prevent overloading of the knee joint, as well as to take care of proper body weight. In addition, it is advisable to properly treat diseases of the knee joint, including osteoarthritis, rheumatic diseases or gout.

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