A SURGICAL ALGORITHM FOR TREATMENT OF CYSTIC DEGENERATION OF THE MENISCUS

Cystic degeneration of the meniscus is not uncommon. Recent reports su ggest that most (or all) meniscal cysts are associated with a meniscal tear, and that the treatment of choice is arthroscopic partial menisc ectomy with cyst decompression. This report describes a case of a symp tomatic lateral meniscal cyst that was suspected clinically and confir med by magnetic resonance imaging, but was not associated with a menis cal tear at arthroscopy. Open cyst extirpation and peripheral meniscal repair were performed to maximize preservation of meniscal tissue. A clinical algorithm is presented for management of meniscal cysts.