Extra-articular endoscopic excision of symptomatic popliteal cyst with failed initial conservative treatment: A novel technique

Abstract To reduce the damage to posteromedial knee capsule, we developed a direct extra-articular arthroscopic approach for excision of symptomatic popliteal cysts. This study aimed to demonstrate the surgical technique and present the 2-year follow-up results. Cystectomy is performed by extra-articular surgical approach through a high posteromedial portal. Twenty-one consecutive patients diagnosed of symptomatic popliteal cysts with failed initial conservative treatments were included. At a median follow-up of 29.4 months, all knees had improved clinical function assessed by Rauschning and Lindgren knee classification ( p