ObjectiveTo evaluate the arthroscopic treatment effectiveness of popliteal cyst excision in combination with debridement of the knee under local anesthesia by comparing with continuous epidural anesthesia. MethodsBetween June 2002 and January 2013,145 patients with popliteal cyst underwent arthroscopic popliteal cyst excision in combination with debridement of the knee under local anesthesia (local anesthesia group).In addition,51 patients with popliteal cyst were treated with the same surgery under continuous epidural anesthesia between February 2000 and August 2005 served as control group.No significant difference was found in gender,age,side,disease duration,or cyst size between 2 groups (P>0.05).Then,anesthesia time,analgesia effect,anesthesia satisfaction,operation time,bleeding volume,and anesthesia complication were compared between 2 groups.The guidelines of Rauschning and Lindgren were used to assess the effectiveness,and recurrence rate was recorded. ResultsAll incisions healed primarily,no neurological or vascular injury was found.The patients were followed up 1 year and 1 month to 8 years (mean,3.7 years) in local anesthesia group,and 8 years to 13 years and 7 months (mean,10.8 years) in control group.Local anesthesia group had shorter anesthesia time,higher visual analogue scale (VAS) score,shorter operation time,and lower bleeding volume (P<0.05) than control group.Anesthesia satisfaction was reduced in local anesthesia group,but there was no significant difference (χ2=0.071,P=1.000).The anesthesia complication incidence of control group (15.7%,8/51) was significantly higher than that of local anesthesia group (0) (P=0.000).Recurrence was found in 12 patients of local anesthesia group (curative ratio 91.7%) and in 5 patients of control group (curative ratio 90.2%),showing no significant difference (χ2=0.111,P=0.774).According to the guidelines of Rauschning and Lindgren,there were 131 cases of grade 0,13 cases of grade I,and 1 case of grade Ⅱ in local anesthesia group,and 37 cases of grade 0,12 cases of grade I,and 2 cases of grade Ⅱ in control group; significant differences in grading were shown between at pre- and post-operation in 2 groups (Z=-10.683,P=0.000; Z=-6.385,P=0.000),and between 2 groups at post-operation (Z=-3.145,P=0.002). ConclusionCompared with under continuous epidural anesthesia,arthroscopic treatment of popliteal cyst excision under local anesthesia can obtain better results.Under local anesthesia,the condition of nerve and vessel can be timely and dynamically observed.Arthroscopic treatment of popliteal cyst excision in combination with debridement of the knee has the advantages of less trauma,lower recurrence rate,and satisfactory results.