The effect of baker's cyst aspiration with usg to the treatment of baker's CYST

Baker's cyst (BC) found by Adams in 1840 and described by Baker in 1877. The most common complaints from the BC are increased swelling with activity, mass, pain and stiffness. There may be a feeling of tension, swelling or indistinct pain while walking behind the knee. Treatments in the BCs are described as aspiration of the cyst, simultaneous steroid injection into the cyst, aspiration of the cysts into the calf, excision of the BC and surgical excision of the connection with the joint space. In this study, 40 patients with BC who were examined in physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic have been included. The patients have symptomatic complaints including knee pain and swelling were diagnosed with USG. First group(n=20) were applied aspiration to the BC with USG-guided. After the aspiration first group had exercise and cold pack to their knees for two weeks. Second group(n=20)had received only exercise and cold pack to their knees for two weeks. The patients were examined at baseline, first month and third months. The patients were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Womac Knee Osteoarthritis, NSP (Quality of Life Questionnaire), Lysholm Knee, Cincinnati Knee scores were used. A statistically significant reduction of patients' scores in Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Womac Knee Osteoarthritis, and NSP (Quality of Life Questionnaire) was used as clinical success. In Lysholm knee and Cincinnati knee scores a statistically significant increase was used for clinical success. The width, height, and area measurements of the pre-procedural BC assessed by USG were compared with the width, height, and area measurements of the first and third months of the BC. There was a significant decrease in BC's width, height and area measurements in both groups. There was a statistically significant decrease in the first and third month scores of the VAS, WOMAC and NSP questionnaires during the treatment period in both groups. There was a statistically significant increase in Lysholm Knee, Cincinnati knee scores in both groups. Clinical complaints of patients in both groups were improved, as well as decreasing of the width, height, and area measurements in the BCs. It has seen that aspiration had more effect on BC. However, this effect was not statistically significant. It has been concluded that USG is the basic imaging method in diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of BC. USG has been considered suitable for use in the diagnosis, treatment and aspiration of the BC, because of its low cost, reproducibility and easy accessibility. USG may has an important role in differential diagnosis of other lesions in the popliteal area. Anahtar Kelimeler: Baker's cyst, Ultrasonography, Cyst aspiration, exercise, Cold pack