BAKERS CYST - CURRENT SURGICAL STANDARDS - REVIEW AND RESULTS

Baker's cysts were treated operatively in 19 patients in the Departmen t of Traumatology of the University of Cologne from 1988 to 1997. The subjective and objective results were evaluated with a questionnaire a nd a clinical examination and sonography (follow-up: 95 %). All patien ts were examinated before surgery, sonography and X-ray of the knee we re performed. We differentiated between the congenital primary cyst (3 9 %), and the secondary form, which was always associated with an intr aarticular lesion (61 %). Arthroscopy was performed in all secondary f orms of Baker's cyst. Postoperative complications were two reintervent ions due to one hematoma and one effusion. Patient's evaluation of ope ration result was ''excellent'' in 61 % and ''good'' in 39 % of cases. All knee joints had a full range of motion. There was only one case o f a recurrent cyst. The primary form of Baker's cyst has always to be extirpated, according to our clinical experience. The extirpation of t he secondary Baker's cyst and the relevance of arthroscopy and treatme nt of the basic disease have to be discussed.