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Popliteal (Baker's) Cyst Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

Popliteal Cyst - management, Hx, PE , imaging

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

Baker's cyst

- Benign swelling of popiteal bursa from extra synovial fluid in the knee joint capsule

Causes

- OA
- Meniscus injuries
- Herniation of knee joint capsule (tear of menicus)
- No hx of trauma

Presen­tation

- Soft, cystic swelli­ng/­ful­lness in popliteal fossa at medial femoral condyle
- Usually inbetween semime­mbr­anosis and medial head of gastro
- Pain aggravated by knee extens­ion­/fully flexed
- Swelling of calf muscles
- Can just present as pain behind the knee

DDx

- DVT
- Medial gastroc strain
- Soft tissue neoplasm
- Superf­icial phlebitis

Imaging

- US (to assess intraa­rti­cular pathology)
- MRI (if other pathol­ogies are suspected)
- RA screen

Imaging - US

Baker's cyst on an US

Management

- Treat underlying cause
- Rest and leg elevation
- Electr­oth­erapy and ice
- Stretching of hammies, quads, gastroc, ankle dorsif­lexors
- Avoidance of squatting, kneeling, heavy lifting, climbing or running
- Can be aspired and treated with steroid injection if big/pa­inful
- Baker's cyst in children usually disappear over a period of time