Objective To investigate the treatment and therapeutic efficacy of intra-articular meniscal cysts by arthroscopy. Methods From January 2005 to December 2009, 9 cases of intra-articular meniscal cysts were treated by arthroscopy, including 5 males and 4 females, with an average age of 33.8 years (range, 24-46 years). Six patients suffered in left knees, 3 in right ones. Just 1 case had trauma history, the others had no obvious predisposing causes. The average course of the disease was 24.2 months (range, 4-36 months). The Lysholm score was (74.2 ± 11.6) points. Arthroscopy showed that the locations of cysts were the anterior horn of lateral meniscus in 8 cases and the anterior horn of medial meniscus in 1 case; all being single cyst (of them, 3 being multilocular cyst). Results All incisions healed primarily with no compl ications of infection and joint effusion. All 9 patients were followed up from 3 to 48 months with an average of 12.7 months. Preoperative symptoms disappeared or reduced and the range of motion of the knee returned to normal. The
Lysholm score was (95.1 ± 3.4) points after 3 months of operation, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.01) when compared with the socre before operation. According to assessment standard described by Choy, the treatment outcome was excellent in 6 cases, good in 2 cases, and general in 1 case; the excellent and good rate was 88.9%. No recurrence was found during follow-up. Conclusion Arthroscopic surgery shows the advantages to maintain good function of knee for the treatment of meniscal cyst, it is the best choice for intra-articular meniscal cysts because of its mini-trauma, rapid recovery, thorough treatment and less recurrence. Simultaneously, partial or tatol meniscectomy or menicus repairing under arthroscopy is performed.
Citation： WANG Min,ZHANG Xia,HAO Yong,ZHOU Yue,WANG Jian,ZHANG Zhengfeng,LI Changqing.. ARTHROSCOPIC TREATMENT OF INTRA-ARTICULAR MENISCAL CYSTS. Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery, 2010, 24(5): 535-537. doi: Copy