Understanding Meniscal Cysts Causes, Diagnosis And Treatment

The meniscus is a cushion of cartilage that softens impacts, shifts stress, improves lubrication, and makes it easier for the knee to get nutrition. If the meniscus tears, a small meniscal cyst may form next to the tear. People think that this cyst forms as part of the body's healing process. A cyst by itself isn't very important; it's only there because of the torn meniscus. But the cyst itself can be painful, and it may be easy to see where the meniscus is torn in the joint.

Signs of Meniscal Cyst

Meniscus cysts don't always make you feel bad. When they do, they might have:

• Pain in the knee when you stand 

• Tenderness along the joint

• A lump or bump where the cyst is, usually on the outside of the knee

• Bump that stands out more when the knee straightens, but the bump itself might not hurt.

• Something that changes size (but might also look the same)

• The knee joint swells or locks up.

What Causes Meniscal Cysts?

A cyst in the meniscus is not really a cyst. Instead, it is made up of joint fluid that has moved around. A bag can hold fluid that leaks out of the joint. The cyst is this pouch. The meniscus cartilage is the knee joint pad. If it tears, fluid can leave the joint and form a cyst. The fluid can't go back into the joint. This means that the cyst will keep filling up with fluid.

Meniscal cyst risk factors are as follows:

• Knee pain or injury to the meniscus

• Take part in physical sports or any sport where the knee joint twists, like tennis, football, soccer, or rugby.

• Getting older or having osteoarthritis

• Injuries to ligaments, like an ACL tear

Men between the ages of 20 and 30 are most likely to have meniscal cysts. A type of meniscus tear known as a horizontal cleft tear is often linked to them. If you twist your knee too much, you might get this kind of tear. Also, a straight hit to the front or side of the knee can do it. This kind of injury can also be caused by too much force on the knees, like when you run on dirt or grass. The meniscus can also wear down and lead to cysts. This is often caused by getting older or having gout.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is generally easy to make by looking at and feeling a separate mass right on top of a painful medial or lateral joint line. The diagnosis is confirmed by an MRI, which shows both the cyst and the torn meniscus that goes with it. If you think this might be the same thing as a "Baker's cyst," which is a collection of fluid that usually forms on the inside back of the knee, you're wrong.

If the knee gets swollen for any reason, fluid can fill the empty space and form a cyst. An MRI can prove the diagnosis and show where and how big the cyst is. You can see the cyst better with ultrasound, and it can also help with suction, the process of putting a needle into the cyst to empty it. 

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How Do You Handle a Meniscal Cyst?

If the injury is minor or happened by accident, care may include icing and/or anti-inflammatory drugs every once in a while. A local sedative and a small needle can be used to "aspirate" the cyst and remove its contents. But this generally only works for a short time before the fluid comes back. Some doctors may say that a small amount of steroids should be injected into the cyst.

Surgery might be the best way to treat the problem for good. This is done with arthroscopy, which involves putting a small camera into the knee joint and making another small opening so that tools can be put into the joint. The torn meniscus is carefully debrided (taken off) during arthroscopy. The cyst in the meniscus will then be taken out of its squished state.

Summary

Tears in the meniscus cartilage in the knee lead to meniscus cysts. Damage to the meniscus or wear and tear on the joint can cause this. Meniscal cysts don't always make you feel bad. When they do, they might hurt, give you a bump on your knee, make the joint swell, or lock up. 

Meniscal cysts can be cleared, but they might come back. The only way to properly treat a cyst and keep it from coming back is to have surgery on the tear itself. It has not been proven that cysts can be avoided in a certain way. Keeping your health and conditioning up can keep your knees from getting hurt. Athletes should wear the right safety gear and make sure it fits right, including cleats that are the right length for the floor. A knee pain doctor in Dallas is a great alternative for meniscal cyst treatment. These specialists use modern methods to diagnose and treat meniscal cysts. Knee injuries professionals provide specialized care and effective management.