Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2007 Feb;15(2):212-6. Epub 2006 Aug 5

Multilobulated popliteal cyst after a failed total knee arthroplasty.

Moretti B, Patella V, Mouhsine E, Pesce V, Spinarelli A, Garofalo R.

Department of Clinical Methodology and Surgical Technique, Orthopedics Section II, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.

Popliteal cyst is a rare finding after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but when present, it might indicate a malfunction of the TKA related to generation of wear-particles, or loosening. We present a case of a multilobulated popliteal cyst developing in a patient 8 years after primary TKA. The cyst was associated with a mechanical prosthetic loosening. The primary complaint of the patient was pain in the posterior region of the knee. A two-stage procedure consisting of cyst excision at first, followed after 5 months by a revision TKA was performed. Intraoperatively, a darkish, multilobulated cyst with a well-defined thick wall filled with fluid containing polyethylene debris, communicating with the knee joint was found. After 3 years of follow-up, the patient was satisfied and walked without the support of a cane. The patient presented a satisfactory knee range of motion. Clinical, radiological and ultrasound investigations ruled out popliteal cyst recurrence. A dissecting popliteal cyst associated with a failed TKA should be excised because it contains polyethylene debris that constitutes an induced factor for prosthetic loosening. A two-stage procedure with quite a long time in-between, as presented in this paper, can be a useful alternative to manage such a problem, in particular in very old patients associated with other medical problems.

PMID: 16897071 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]