Popliteal Cysts Imaging - Picture, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Popliteal Cysts

What is Popliteal Cysts?

Popliteal Cysts is a collection of the joint fluid which mostly occurs at the back of the knee. It is also known as bakers cysts.

Causes of Popliteal Cysts

• Popliteal Cysts may occur because of the connection of a normal bursa with the knee joint but this is mostly occur to the children.
• Popliteal cysts can also arise because of cartilage tears or arthritis.
• Injury or the inflammation of the knee joint may also cause to this disease.
• It can also occur because of rheumatoid arthritis or any other problem of knee.
• It is also occurs because of swelling of knee joint.

Symptoms of Popliteal Cysts

•  Patient might have bulge behind the knee.

•  Tightness at the back of the knee when it is fully flexed.

•  Blood clot in the leg.

•  There may be a rounded swelling and pain behind the knee.

•  It can create difficulty in folding the joint.

•  A cyst like water-filled balloon may occur at the back of the knee.

Treatment of Popliteal Cysts

• Treatment starts with anti-inflammatory medication.
• Injection of steroid solution is used to make cyst dry when it become large enough.
• Ice in elastic wrap coupled is used to decrease the size of this cyst.
• Cortisone injections also used in treatment.
• Some non-surgical treatment such as massage treatment and electrical stimulation may be used to reduce knee swelling.
• Cyst can be aspirated when it become solid and gel-like.
• When non-surgical treatment fails then surgical treatment is used.