Arthroscopic Treatment for Meniscal Cyst

관절경을 이용한 반월상연골 낭종의 치료

Recent studies suggest that most meniscal cysts can be treated surgically by arthroscopic management of the meniscal tear and arthroscopic cyst evacuation. But arthroscopic cyst decompression may sacrifice a substantial amount of meniscal tissue that is not torn in order to expose the "stalk" of the cyst. Nowadays, the trend is changing as preserving the involved meniscus to prevent from inevitable degenerative changes after meniscectomy. The purpose of this report is to describe a new surgical technique that minimizes loss of meniscal tissue in hopes of maximizing residual meniscal function. We experienced 10 patients with meniscal cysts that were consisted of four lateral cysts and six medial cysts. Menisci were torn in all cases. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and decompression of cysts were performed in 9 cases, and arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and open cystectomy in 1 case. The procedures were consisted of injection of the methylene blue into the cyst, partial meniscectomy of the meniscal tear until the dye was seen in orifice of the cyst, and decompression of cyst through cystic opening. This article serves to confirm the relationship between torn menisci and cysts, to re-evaluate the occurrence ratio of the meniscal cyst on the medial to lateral meniscus, and to assess the efficacy of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and decompression of cyst as a potentially meniscal sparing procedure.