Arthroscopic Popliteal Cyst Excision: Technique and Outcomes with 2-Year Follow-Up

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Knee Anatomy

Background:

• Popliteal cysts are common, often causing knee pain and discomfort.
• Surgical excision is a treatment option, but minimally invasive techniques are preferred.
• Arthroscopic approaches offer potential benefits over open surgery for popliteal cyst removal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a specific arthroscopic technique for popliteal cyst excision.
• To evaluate the preliminary clinical outcomes of this arthroscopic procedure.
• To assess patient-reported outcomes using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 40 patients undergoing arthroscopic popliteal cyst excision (2013-2020).
• Technique involved dual posteromedial portals, valvular mechanism expansion, and cyst wall resection.
• IKDC scores were collected preoperatively and at follow-up (mean 3.7 years).

Main Results:

• Mean IKDC scores improved significantly from 42.6 preoperatively to 70.4 postoperatively (p<0.01).
• The proportion of patients meeting the Patient Acceptable Symptomatic State (PASS) cutoff increased from 13% to 70% (p<0.01).
• Higher BMI and longer postsurgery time were associated with lower IKDC scores.

Conclusions:

• The described arthroscopic technique for popliteal cyst excision yields good clinical outcomes.
• This minimally invasive approach significantly improves patient-reported knee function and satisfaction.
• No cyst recurrences or need for revision surgery were reported in this cohort.