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Elbow osteoarthritis and a massive forearm cyst. A case report
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
|September 1, 1995
Summary
A large forearm cyst in an elderly man with elbow osteoarthritis remained undiagnosed until total elbow arthroplasty. Post-surgery, the cyst resolved, suggesting osteoarthritis as the cause.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Rheumatology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Elbow osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint disease.
- Synovial cysts can occur in association with joint disease.
- Diagnostic challenges exist for large, atypical joint-related masses.
Observation:
- A massive, undiagnosed forearm cyst was noted in a 74-year-old male patient.
- The patient presented with symptomatic elbow osteoarthritis.
- The cyst was noncommunicating and did not appear connected to the joint.
Findings:
- Total elbow arthroplasty was performed for the patient's osteoarthritis.
- The forearm cyst completely resolved following the elbow surgery.
- No recurrence of the cyst was observed postoperatively.
Implications:
- Osteoarthritis may be the underlying cause of large, noncommunicating synovial forearm cysts.
- Surgical intervention for the primary joint pathology can resolve associated extrarticular cysts.
- This case highlights the importance of considering joint disease in the etiology of unexplained soft tissue masses near joints.