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Baker's (Popliteal) Cyst
ℹ️ About
- 🦵 A Baker’s cyst (popliteal cyst) forms when fluid leaks from a knee effusion into the gastrocnemius-semimembranosus bursa, creating a swollen sac behind the knee.
🧬 Aetiology
- Degenerative changes in the knee joint leading to effusion & leakage.
- ⚡ OA (osteoarthritis) and RA (rheumatoid arthritis).
- Meniscal cartilage degeneration.
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
👩⚕️ Clinical
- Typically seen in middle-aged and older patients.
- Swelling, tightness, stiffness, or discomfort in the popliteal fossa.
- Cyst located in the sub-gastrocnemius bursa.
- Large cysts → bulging mass and restricted movement.
- ❗ A ruptured cyst can mimic a DVT → acute calf pain, swelling, erythema.
🔎 Investigations
- 🖥️ Ultrasound: First-line, distinguishes cyst from DVT or aneurysm.
- 🧲 MRI: Confirms diagnosis, assesses associated intra-articular pathology.
🔍 Differential Diagnosis
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
- Popliteal artery aneurysm.
- Soft tissue tumour (rare).
💊 Management
- 🙌 Asymptomatic: No treatment needed.
- 🧊 Conservative: Rest, ice, elevation, NSAIDs for pain/swelling.
- 💉 Aspiration + steroid injection: For recurrent or symptomatic cysts.
- 🧘 Physiotherapy: Strengthening/quadriceps exercises to improve joint function.
- ⏳ Spontaneous resolution often occurs within 6–12 months.
- 🔪 Surgery (arthroscopy ± cyst excision): Considered if cyst persists, is very large, or associated with intra-articular pathology (e.g. meniscal tear).
📚 References
| The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms. |
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