Arthroscopic decompression of meniscal cysts: report of 14 cases

Meniscal cysts are a painful disorder of the knee affecting young to middle-aged adults. The recommended treatment has been total meniscectomy. With the widespread use of arthroscopic surgery there has been a trend to a more conservative management of meniscal pathology in general. We treated 14 patients with meniscal cysts (13 lateral, one medial) by partial arthroscopic meniscectomy and decompression. At a mean follow-up of 19 months, results were satisfactory in 12 patients; there was one recurrence and one patient had reinjured his knee. We concluded that arthroscopic decompression of meniscal cysts is a promising form of treatment.