Becker's cyst behind the knee - how to treat, photos
Hernia in the knee region, or as it is also called a Baker's cyst, has several names, for example, knee or popliteal cyst. In General, this does not affect the clinical picture of the disease. One of the names with the name of Dr. W. H. Baker, who was diagnosed with it in the 19th century and described.
If we talk about the size of this cystic neoplasm, they can vary from a few millimeters and a few centimeters in cross section. On average, most common cyst measuring about 3 cm.
As a rule, the cyst develops under one knee, but there are described cases when cystic formation appeared synchronous under both knees. From the point of view of the age limit, we note that the cyst usually appears between 4 and 7 years the child and the adult, approximately 35 to 70 years.
The reasons for the formation of the cyst
The basis of the causes of Baker's cyst are pathological processes that occur in the knee joint. These include:
- Trauma of the knee joint. This can be a variety of injuries, strokes, dislocations and subluxations. Usually the reasons are always associated with the sport.
- Miniscul damage and degenerative tissue changes.
- The transition of the inflammatory process in the knee joint in the form of Chronicles.
- Damage up to destruction of joint cartilage.
In addition, the causes can be diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, arthrosis patellofemoral, they play the role of a provoking factor.
All of the above reasons lead to the fact that in the region of the knee joint begins to produce in a large amount of synovial fluid which accumulates in the rear part of the knee joint.
As soon as the fluid becomes too much, it starts to exert pressure on the nerve endings of the tissue, which leads to the appearance of the main symptoms.
Important! Excessive accumulation of fluid in the knee joint called articular effusion or water on the knee.
And yet, we note an interesting point because a cyst Becker may occur even if the knee is completely healthy. In this case, the Bursa — sacs of synovial fluid responsible for reducing friction of moving parts of the joints, form joint a kind of tunnel that connects with the membrane of the joint. This tunnel drains synovial fluid in knee Bursa and as a result, we observed the formation of edema. However, this clinical picture is most characteristic of patients-children and almost never occurs in adults.
To determine the exact cause of the cyst behind the knee uses the method of hardware diagnostics – ultrasound of the knee jointor MRI. In some cases, but rarely, it is possible to carry out the puncture of the cyst contents.
Important! Arthritis and osteoarthritis in half of the cases the next stage of the disease is the formation of Baker's cyst.
Treatment of cysts Becker
At the first symptoms, which may indicate with regard to surgical treatment, there are often used to puncture the cyst. Surgery takes place using a thick needle, which is pierced by cystic formation and it is completely extracted liquid.
After carried out some drainage, introduced into the cavity, anti-inflammatory medications Triamcinolone, Diprospan, Berlicort. Note, however, that puncture gives temporary results. In a further cavity, which was formed at the site of the cyst will continue to fill with fluid.
Folk remedies can be used in the treatment of cysts, but stop them as the means of additional, and rather, included in the complex treatment after surgical intervention. This is especially true of post-operative recovery phase.
Here, however, immediately note that they can be used only with the permission of the attending physician.
As for physical therapy, it is assigned to the periods of remission, as physical activity may cause the return of pain and complications of the disease.
And say a few words about the operation, adding that indications for cyst removal are:
- High pain education.
- The rapid progress of the disease.
- The large size of the cyst.
- Other methods have proved ineffective.