Picture 1. <\/strong>Baker’s cyst and its formation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat causes baker’s cyst?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Although baker’s cysts can occur in any individual, they are most common in adults between the ages of 35 and 70 and in children between the ages of 4 and 7. In adults, baker’s cysts are most commonly associated with various types of joint rheumatism (such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis-arthritis), meniscal tears, anterior cruciate ligament tears, overuse or injury of the knee. In other words, baker’s cyst develops due to various problems in the knee. In these cases, the overflow of the joint fluid, which increases due to degenerative conditions within the knee, towards the popliteal bursa leads to the formation of a baker’s cyst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike in adults, a baker’s cyst<\/strong> in children is caused by a herniation of the lining of the knee joint behind the joint capsule. However, it should be noted that the incidence of Baker’s cysts typically increases with age.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat are the Symptoms of Baker’s Cyst?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The most common symptoms of baker’s cyst<\/strong> in adults are swelling behind the knee,<\/strong> inability to fully extend the knee and pain behind the knee<\/strong>. The swelling becomes more prominent when the patient is standing (with the legs stretched); when the knee joint is bent at a 45-degree angle, the tension on the cyst decreases and this causes the swelling appearance to decrease or disappear. Some patients complain of a tense, egg-like swelling behind the knee.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPain behind the knee can often<\/strong> increase when extending your legs, standing for long periods of time, bending your knees and during physical activities, which can interfere with the movement and range of motion of your knee joint.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, it is important to note that a baker’s cyst<\/strong> can rarely burst due to increased pressure in the sac due to rapid fluid accumulation. In this case, the symptoms of a baker’s cyst<\/strong> may vary.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSo, what happens if a baker’s cyst bursts?<\/strong> When the fluid in the burst cyst spreads down the knee to the tissues between the calf muscles, symptoms such as sharp pain in the knee and calf, a feeling of water flowing down the calf, swelling or redness in the calf can be seen. The most important point to remember here is that the above symptoms can be confused with deep vein thrombosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBaker’s cysts may not always cause symptoms, especially in children, and can sometimes be diagnosed incidentally during an examination.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPicture 2.<\/strong> Images of baker’s cyst<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow is Baker’s Cyst Diagnosed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n People usually consult an orthopedic and traumatology<\/strong> doctor with complaints of swelling behind the knee and pain behind the knee. Detailed history, physical examination and imaging methods are used in the diagnosis of baker’s cyst.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDuring the physical examination for baker’s cyst<\/strong>, your doctor will check for swelling behind your knee, joint stiffness and limited range of motion. In addition, because some of the symptoms of a Baker’s cyst are similar to more serious conditions such as a blood clot, aneurysm or tumor, your doctor will be able to make a definitive diagnosis of a baker’s cyst<\/strong> by using X-rays, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).<\/p>\n\n\n\nPicture 3.<\/strong> MRI (magnetic resonance) image of baker’s cyst<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat You Should Know About Baker’s Cyst Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n After the diagnosis of baker’s cyst<\/strong>, the first question that arises in patients’ minds is “Will Baker’s cyst go away on its own?”.<\/strong> Indeed, baker’s cysts can sometimes disappear spontaneously. However, treatment is required for cysts that do not disappear and cause pain. For this reason, your orthopedic surgeon may find it appropriate to first evaluate non-surgical treatment options and treat the underlying causes of the baker’s cyst.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat are the Non-Surgical Treatment Options?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Non-surgical treatment<\/strong> options that can be applied in the treatment of baker’s cyst are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\nRest\/change in activity:<\/strong> Your doctor may recommend that you avoid intense physical activity and rest the leg where the cyst has formed to relieve the symptoms of a Baker’s cyst. In addition, he or she may ask you to observe whether the cyst is getting bigger and other symptoms that may occur.<\/li>Baker’s cyst ice treatment:<\/strong> An ice pack wrapped in a towel can be placed on the back of your knee to reduce swelling and relieve pain. Ice treatment can be applied for 20 to 30 minutes at regular intervals throughout the day.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nPhysical therapy baker’s cyst physical therapy movements\/exercises:<\/strong> can be used in combination with other treatment options to increase the range of motion of your knees, strengthen the muscles around the knee and maintain the function of the knee. However, you and your doctor should decide whether physical therapy is suitable for you.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nNon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs:<\/strong> In addition to rest and activity modification, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen can help reduce pain and swelling.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nSteroid injection:<\/strong> If baker’s cyst is caused by arthritis, your doctor may recommend a cortisone injection into your knee joint to reduce inflammation.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nAspiration (draining fluid from the cyst):<\/strong> With aspiration, your doctor numbs the area around the cyst and drains the excess fluid from the joint using a needle and syringe. During the aspiration procedure, ultrasound is often used to guide the placement of the needle.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Decide on Surgery for Baker’s Cyst Treatment?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Surgery is rarely necessary in the treatment of baker’s cyst. <\/strong> However, if you have complaints that do not go away with non-surgical treatment methods or if your cyst recurs after aspiration, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the cyst or to treat other problems that can lead to a cyst in the knee, such as a meniscus tear or cartilage problem. The surgery is performed with two different techniques: arthroscopic (closed method) or open removal of the cyst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n