Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Meniscal Cyst

A meniscal cyst involves an outflow of joint fluid present along the peripheral linings of the meniscus. It is frequently related to horizontal meniscal tears. Meniscal cysts can occur because of the compression injury affecting the sides of the meniscus. 

The torn meniscus is often diagnosed with an MRI scan. It offers a guide to pain physicians in Dallas on whether conservative approaches will be enough, including physiotherapy or if surgical procedures are needed. A meniscal cyst causes a visible lesion to a ganglion. It develops from the outer area of the meniscus and generates a tense inflammation at the joint outline.

Anatomy of a Meniscal Cyst

Meniscal cysts arise along the joint line along the meniscus, generally in the outer area, where they lead to pain. However, medial meniscal cysts are not common.

The cyst comprises a fibrous tissue outline(sac) and is packed with joint liquid under stress. The fluid-filled pocket develops into the capsule-shaped tissues on the joint lining, producing a discomforting lump there, which can often be reduced by suppressing the cyst. 

What Types of Meniscal Cysts are there?

There are two types of meniscal cysts:

• Parameniscal Cysts

The meniscus is prone to cysts of this type. An inflammatory condition, degenerative changes, or trauma may cause a parameniscal cyst to form. The diagnosis of parameniscal cysts is medical. 

• Parameniscal Cysts 

It is located beyond the margins of the meniscus. Parameniscal refers to the area adjacent to the meniscus. An injury to the meniscus may result in these cysts. As a result, synovial fluid leaks from the joint space and forms a pocket outside the joint space. In some cases, parameniscal cysts can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness, although they are usually asymptomatic.

Symptoms of Meniscal Cyst

The most common symptoms of meniscal cyst are as follows:

• Pain on the boundaries of the knee joint linings:

• Particularly when standing on the impacted leg

• Click sounds

• 40-60% of meniscal cysts are palpable

• Knee inflammation

• Can be asymptomatic

What are the Risk Factors for Meniscal Cyst?

Risk factors include:

• Turning knee injury leading to a meniscal tear

• Past knee injury like ligament injury

• Age, as this enhances the chance of a destructive meniscal tear

Diagnosis of Meniscal Cysts

Diagnosis of the meniscal cyst may be medically clear, an MRI test is likely to be performed for proper analysis. The fluid present in the meniscal pocket will appear as white on the MRI scan. However, it becomes very difficult when a meniscal cyst comes up as a surprising finding, or where it is large and requires to be isolated from a Baker's cyst.

Generally, Orthopedic surgery is suggested to exclude the identification of a horizontal cleavage cut of the meniscus. If this is observed, the tear is cleared out and the cyst is removed from inside the meniscus. A partial meniscectomy might also be performed.

If a horizontal cleavage tear is missing, the cyst might be treated from the outer area of the knee and suppressed.

Conservative Treatment options for Meniscal Cyst

Some of the common conservative meniscal cyst treatments include:

• Anti-inflammatories

They facilitate to reduction of swelling in the knee

• Rest

This offers to reduce stress on the knee and related swelling

• Ice

Often icing the knee facilitates to reduction of inflammation and irritation inside the knee

• Compression through an elastic tape

Covering the knee with elastic tape will help decrease knee swelling

• Elevation

Uplifting the leg reduces knee swelling via gravity and meniscal cyst pain

• Ultrasound followed needle aspiration of the cyst and injecting steroid

• Removes risks of surgery

• Decrease risk of recurrence

Surgical Treatment options for Meniscal Cyst

The meniscal cysts can be removed by debridement and Knee arthroscopy:

• The aim is to disturb the one-way flow and allow the free passing of synovial liquid in both ways

• 90% of sufferers report good to appropriate results

• If the cyst is greater in size or does not connect with a meniscal cut, can be surgically eliminated from the outside

• Meniscal tear if possible can be recovered with meniscal sutures to cover the valve

What Happens If You Leave a Torn Meniscus Untreated?

When knee pain doctor in Dallas decide to manage a meniscus tear with surgery, they are trying to avoid instability of the knee joint and weak knees. However, not all tears need rapid surgery, and minor tears - particularly if longitudinal and close to the periphery- can just be examined to see if recovery happens. If a symptomatic meniscus cut is causing persistent pain and a sense of instability within the knee, surgery might be contemplated.

Minor, non-symptomatic destructive tears analyzed during an arthroscopy additionally do not demand active management—the idea is that they must be left separate. 

An MRI analysis done by pain management in Dallas for other causes suggests a minor meniscus tear, yet the patient does not report any symptoms associated with this. One must possibly accept this as a mistake of radiographic conclusion because various anatomical organs seen from particular angles may appear like a tear.  

Conclusion

Meniscal cysts develop from small meniscal cuts, which act as one-direction valves, permitting the pumping of synovial liquid out of the cyst's joint area. Meniscal cysts don't need to always show symptoms. However, when they do, they might end in pain, a lump on the knee, and inflammation or joint locking.