Bakers Cyst

A Baker's Cyst is simply a hernia of the synovial sac that encloses the knee joint. ALL joints have synovial sacs for the lubrication of that joint. Chronic "bracing" causes a tremendous increase in the pressure inside any joint. However, since the knee joint is so large, and we put all our weight on it each step we make, this is the joint where this pressure causes the fluid to form a hernia the most commonly: a "Baker's Cyst".

This is one of the more important reasons I say that Baker's is related to the same causes that form an arthritic tendency.

When any muscle contracts, the opposing muscle for that joint is supposed to relax completely by reflex action. If it does not (the definition of "bracing": when all muscles stay contracted to a certain extent 24 hours a day, even when asleep) the muscles work against each other and grind the joint surfaces togther harder than normal and aggavate the wear & tear of the joint surfaces AT THE SAME TIME THE PRESSURE IN THE SYNOVIAL FLUID IS GREATLY INCREASED.

Surely, by now, the reader can begin to understand why this causes Baker's Cysts.

The symptoms of a Baker's is directly related to where the hernia happens. Nearly all of these occur on the back of the knee BECAUSE that is where the protecting tissues are the thinnest (the same as ALL joints: the tissue inside the joint is thinnest since less protection is needed there).

Of course, that is also where all the major nerves, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons are as well and for the same reason. If this is confusing, look at an anatomy atlas. When the bulge presses on something, one gets pain from that structure. That is why symptoms can go "down the leg", etc.

Remember, when one has severe leg or foot pain from a herniated disc, the surgery is on the back not on the leg or foot.

The only thing yet known that will reduce the pressure inside the joint is getting rid of the bracing and the only thing yet known that will do that is the regular practice of skilled relaxation for 6-12 months. Once the cyst is already there, the SR will not get rid of it any more than an inguinal hernia can be repaired by SR. It has to be surgically removed and the SR will help prevent the next one.

The surgical approach to a Baker's Cyst is right where it is coming out of the ruptured sac. That is why the approach is from the rear. A surgeon would have to have a VERY good reason for entering the knee joint for a Baker's Cyst. The idea is to remove the cyst without breaking it and then suturing up the weakened part of the sac that allowed the bulging tissue.

This should be a pretty simple surgery. If the cyst is pressing on a nerve, etc, it can just be peeled off.

Walt Stoll, M.D.

Articles

Sites

Bakers Cyst archives from the 'Ask Dr. Stoll' BBS

There have been several posts to the Ask Dr Stoll Bulletin Board (BB) regarding Baker's Cyst. Many of them have been archived here

Baker cyst - a CHORUS notecard document about Baker cyst
--http://chorus.rad.mcw.edu/doc/01192.html

Baker cyst, CHORUS, radiology, medicine, health, MCW, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Image: Knee with popliteal (Baker's) cyst - Knee with popliteal (Baker's) cyst July 14 1997 Knee with popliteal (Baker's) cyst | Normal knee (rear view) LEGAL CONDITIONS AND TERMS OF USE APPLICABLE TO ALL USERS OF THIS SITE. ANY USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS OF...
--http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/askphys/ww5rn68.htm

MRI Baker's Cyst - Baker's Cyst This sagital view shows fluid in the anterior aspect of the joint as well as what turned out to be a meniscal cyst in the posterior aspect of the meniscus Edited by: Gregory C. Gardner, MD, Associate Professor Department of...
--http://www.orthop.washington.edu/Arthriti/Knee/Kneecyst2.htm

Popliteal cyst - (MAYO CLINIC) -
--http://mayohealth.org/mayo/askphys/qa970704.htm

Synovial Cyst - Synovial Cyst Back to previous level Popliteal Cyst Search PUBMED for Popliteal Cyst: All Review Therapy Diagnosis Description of Baker Cyst Tear of the middle and posterior horns of the medial meniscus with popliteal cyst (Baker's cyst): U. of...
--http://medir.ohsu.edu/cliniweb/C4/C4.182.867.html

HealthCentral - Pediatrics Encyclopedia - Baker's cyst - WELCOME! Start My Health Profile Create My Health Page SEARCH FOR: WHERE: HealthCentral.com News Dr. Dean Edell People's Pharmacy Fit or Fat Best Doctors Library: Encyclopedias Herb Library Saturday, April 15, 2000 Search Tips Advanced Search Main..
--http://www.healthcentral.com/peds/top/001222.cfm

Re: EDS due to excessive melatonin/pineal cyst ? - Re: EDS due to excessive melatonin/pineal cyst ? [ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Diagnostic Dilemmas Forum ] [ FAQ ] Posted by Lacey Baker on October 04, 1999 at 17:20:37: In Reply to: EDS due to excessive melatonin/pineal cyst ? posted by...
--http://www.sleepnet.com/forum5/messages/516.html

BAKER'S-CYST REMOVAL - thrive@health - BAKER'S-CYST REMOVAL General Information DEFINITION--Removal of Baker's cyst, a benign cystic tumor on the back of the knee joint. The cyst consists of accumulated fluid that protrudes between two groups of muscles behind the knee. Baker's cyst may.
--http://www.thriveonline.com/health/Library/surgery/surger...

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Springer LINK: Der Chirurg - Abstract Volume 69 Issue 3 (1998) pp 306-309 - Der Chirurg ISSN: 0009-4722 (printed version) ISSN: 1433-0385 (electronic version)Table of Contents Abstract Volume 69 Issue 3 (1998) pp 306-309 Ruptur einer Baker-Cyste mit Compartmentsyndrom Eine seltene Komplikation der Kniearthroskopie Ruptur...
--http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/00104/bibs/...

Springer LINK: Der Chirurg - Abstract Volume 69 Issue 11 (1998) pp 1224-1229 - Der Chirurg ISSN: 0009-4722 (printed version) ISSN: 1433-0385 (electronic version)Table of Contents Abstract Volume 69 Issue 11 (1998) pp 1224-1229 klinik und forschung: Die Baker-Cyste - eine aktuelle chirurgische Standortbestimmung ersicht und..
--http://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00104/b...

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