OBJECTIVETo explore the treatment methods and the effects of popliteal cyst with arthroscopy.

METHODSFrom January 2009 to January 2010,20 patients with popliteal cyst were treated with internal drainage under arthroscope, meanwhile, their joint disease were treated. There were 9 males and 11 females with an average age of (55.7 +/- 7.7) years (ranged, 46 to 70). The lump was found for 1-22 months with an average of (6.2 +/- 2.4) months and accompanying with knee pain of different degrees. All diagnosis depended on B ultrasound or MRI, which clearly showed communication of cyst and articular cavity. According to the grade of Rauschning and Lindgren,grade II was in 8 cases and grade III was in 12 cases. The clinical effects were evaluated by the grade of Rauschning and Lindgren.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 6 to 18 months with an average of 12 months. No injuries of blood vessels and nerve or incision infection were found. The grade of Rauschning and Lindgren improved obviously in all patients, grade 0 was in 13 cases, grade I in 6 cases, grade II in 1 case at the 6 months after operation.

CONCLUSIONThe method not only can cure the popliteal cyst, but also can solve the disease of joint, which is avoiding re-operation and decreasing some shortages of traditional operation, can obtain good function recovery and satisfactory medium-term effects.