Diagnosing Baker’s cyst
Your doctor can usually diagnosis a Baker’s cyst by examining your knee and asking about your symptoms and whether you have any associated health conditions, such as arthritis.
If your doctor is unable to reach a diagnosis, they may recommend further tests. These will be used to rule out other less common but more serious conditions, such as a tumour or an aneurysm (a bulge in a section of a blood vessel).
The tests may include an ultrasound, a computer topography (CT) scan, and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
Self care
You can treat a Baker’s cyst yourself, using some self-care techniques. These include:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, to reduce swelling and pain in the affected joint,
- icepacks to reduce any swelling,
- resting your knee joint, and
- compression bandages to support your knee joint.
Further treatment
Further treatment may be required if your cyst is causing you problems and is not responding to these self-care techniques.
One treatment option for Baker’s cyst is to inject corticosteroid medication directly into the affected knee. This helps to reduce inflammation and swelling.
If there is extensive damage to the knee joint, either as a result of a condition such as osteoarthritis or a physical injury, surgery may be required to remove the cyst and repair the joint. This is usually done using a surgical technique called arthroscopy.
Arthroscopy
An arthroscopy is a procedure used by surgeons to inspect and treat problems inside a joint. An arthroscope is a narrow tube with a light attached to a tiny video camera that sends pictures back to a television monitor. The arthroscope is passed through a small cut in the skin (a keyhole procedure) and used to light up and magnify the joint, so the surgeon can see any damage.
Instruments can be inserted into the incision to repair the joint and drain away excess fluid.
Arthroscopies can be performed on an outpatient basis under a local anaesthetic (the area is numbed). If more extensive work is required to repair the joint, a general anaesthetic (where you are asleep during the procedure) may be required.
Complications of Baker’s cyst
Ruptured Baker’s cyst
In rare cases, a Baker’s cyst can rupture (burst), causing the synovial fluid to leak down into your calf. This can cause a sharp pain in your knee and calf, and swelling and inflammation of your calf.
The synovial fluid will gradually be reabsorbed into the body over one to four weeks. Prescription painkillers, usually a combination of paracetamol and codeine, can be used to control any pain.
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