{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T10:46:28Z","timestamp":1790419588892,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"3","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JBJS Rev"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Treatment methods for popliteal cysts have varied over the past several decades and have posed challenges to providers as recurrences were frequent. With greater understanding of relevant anatomy, both operative and nonoperative treatment methods have evolved to appropriately target relevant pathology and improve outcomes. The purposes of this review were to outline the evolution of treatment methods and to qualitatively summarize clinical outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We performed a systematic review on treatments for popliteal cysts to include publications from 1970 to 2019. Other inclusion criteria consisted of studies with \u226510 patients enrolled, studies with a patient age of \u226516 years, studies with an adequate description of the treatment technique, and studies with a Level of Evidence of IV or higher. The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and literature quality was assessed using a modified Coleman methodology score.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Thirty studies met inclusion criteria in this review. Nine studies discussed nonoperative treatment, and 21 studies discussed operative treatment. Eight of the 9 nonoperative treatment studies utilized corticosteroid injections. The most recent studies have advocated for ultrasound-guided intracystic injection with possible cyst fenestration. Most operative studies utilized an arthroscopic approach to enlarge the communication with the joint space. However, alternative treatment techniques are still utilized.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The current literature on the treatment of popliteal cysts indicates that intracystic corticosteroid injection with cyst fenestration is an effective nonoperative treatment method. Arthroscopic surgical procedures with enlargement of the communication have been most widely studied, with positive results; however, further studies are needed to confirm superiority over other treatment methods.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Level of Evidence:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Therapeutic\n                      <jats:underline>Level IV<\/jats:underline>\n                      . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2106\/jbjs.rvw.19.00139","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,3,9]],"date-time":"2020-03-09T04:00:23Z","timestamp":1583726423000},"page":"e0139-e0139","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":23,"title":["Popliteal Cysts"],"prefix":"10.2106","volume":"8","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0708-7546","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Duncan S.","family":"Van Nest","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1013-7735","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fotios P.","family":"Tjoumakaris","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5412-0540","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bradley J.","family":"Smith","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6392-2075","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tricia M.","family":"Beatty","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4303-4131","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kevin B.","family":"Freedman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"276","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,3]]},"reference":[{"issue":"5","key":"r1-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"R172","DOI":"10.1186\/ar3132","article-title":"Longitudinal assessment of cyst-like lesions of the knee and their relation to radiographic osteoarthritis and MRI-detected effusion and synovitis in patients with knee pain","volume":"12","author":"Hayashi","year":"2010","journal-title":"Arthritis Res Ther"},{"issue":"4","key":"r2-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"368","DOI":"10.1016\/S0749-8063(99)70053-8","article-title":"Arthroscopic treatment of popliteal cyst and associated intra-articular knee disorders in adults","volume":"15","author":"Sansone","year":"1999","journal-title":"Arthroscopy"},{"issue":"5","key":"r3-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"497","DOI":"10.1177\/028418517701800501","article-title":"Gastrocnemio-semimembranosus bursa and its relation to the knee joint. I. Anatomy and histology","volume":"18","author":"Lindgren","year":"1977","journal-title":"Acta Radiol Diagn (Stockh)."},{"issue":"2","key":"r4-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1177\/028418517801900213","article-title":"Gastrocnemio-semimembranosus bursa and its relation to the knee joint. III. Pressure measurements in joint and bursa","volume":"19","author":"Lindgren","year":"1978","journal-title":"Acta Radiol Diagn (Stockh)."},{"issue":"4","key":"r5-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"359","DOI":"10.1177\/1941738113520130","article-title":"Baker\u2019s cyst: diagnostic and surgical considerations","volume":"7","author":"Frush","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sports Health"},{"issue":"5","key":"r6-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"336","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijsu.2010.02.007","article-title":"Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: the PRISMA statement","volume":"8","author":"Moher","year":"2010","journal-title":"Int J Surg"},{"issue":"5","key":"r8-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"583","DOI":"10.3109\/17453677908989808","article-title":"Popliteal cysts (Baker\u2019s cysts) in adults. I. Clinical and roentgenological results of operative excision","volume":"50","author":"Rauschning","year":"1979","journal-title":"Acta Orthop Scand"},{"issue":"10","key":"r9-20230807","first-page":"2232","article-title":"An analysis of the quality of cartilage repair studies","volume":"87","author":"Jakobsen","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Bone Joint Surg Am"},{"issue":"3","key":"r10-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1002\/jcu.20210","article-title":"Ultrasonographic assessment of Baker\u2019s cysts after intra-articular corticosteroid injection in knee osteoarthritis","volume":"34","author":"Acebes","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Clin Ultrasound"},{"issue":"12","key":"r11-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"970","DOI":"10.1097\/PHM.0b013e3181fc7da2","article-title":"Ultrasound-guided aspiration and corticosteroid injection of Baker\u2019s cysts in knee osteoarthritis: a prospective observational study","volume":"89","author":"Di Sante","year":"2010","journal-title":"Am J Phys Med Rehabil"},{"issue":"4","key":"r12-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"727","DOI":"10.1007\/s10067-011-1909-9","article-title":"Longitudinal ultrasound and clinical follow-up of Baker\u2019s cysts injection with steroids in knee osteoarthritis","volume":"31","author":"Bandinelli","year":"2012","journal-title":"Clin Rheumatol"},{"issue":"9","key":"r13-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"690","DOI":"10.1007\/s11547-017-0771-5","article-title":"Can ultrasonography-guided aspiration and steroid injection treat reflux venous blood flow around symptomatic Baker\u2019s cysts? Our short-term experience","volume":"122","author":"Cakmakci","year":"2017","journal-title":"Radiol Med"},{"issue":"4","key":"r14-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"386","DOI":"10.2340\/16501977-2049","article-title":"Effects of sono-feedback during aspiration of Baker\u2019s cysts: a controlled clinical trial","volume":"48","author":"\u00c7a\u011flayan","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Rehabil Med"},{"issue":"11","key":"r15-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3466","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejrad.2012.05.015","article-title":"Ultrasound guided percutaneous treatment and follow-up of Baker\u2019s cyst in knee osteoarthritis","volume":"81","author":"K\u00f6ro\u011flu","year":"2012","journal-title":"Eur J Radiol"},{"issue":"5","key":"r16-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.1177\/1941738115585520","article-title":"Treatment of popliteal (Baker) cysts with ultrasound-guided aspiration, fenestration, and injection: long-term follow-up","volume":"7","author":"Smith","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sports Health"},{"issue":"4","key":"r17-20230807","first-page":"561","article-title":"Ultrasound-guided aspiration and corticosteroid injection compared to horizontal therapy for treatment of knee osteoarthritis complicated with Baker\u2019s cyst: a randomized, controlled trial","volume":"48","author":"Di Sante","year":"2012","journal-title":"Eur J Phys Rehabil Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"r18-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.1007\/s00066-018-1389-9","article-title":"Is low dose radiotherapy an effective treatment for Baker\u2019s cyst?","volume":"195","author":"Hautmann","year":"2019","journal-title":"Strahlenther Onkol"},{"issue":"7","key":"r19-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1487","DOI":"10.2106\/00004623-197052070-00029","article-title":"Popliteal cysts associated with undiagnosed posterior lesions of the medial meniscus. The significance of age in diagnosis and treatment","volume":"52","author":"Childress","year":"1970","journal-title":"J Bone Joint Surg Am"},{"issue":"3","key":"r20-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.3109\/17453677308988697","article-title":"Popliteal cyst. A follow-up study on 42 operatively treated patients","volume":"44","author":"Vahvanen","year":"1973","journal-title":"Acta Orthop Scand"},{"issue":"2","key":"r21-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.3928\/0147-7447-19910201-09","article-title":"Popliteal cyst: a surgical approach","volume":"14","author":"Hughston","year":"1991","journal-title":"Orthopedics"},{"issue":"3","key":"r22-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"547","DOI":"10.3109\/17453678008990839","article-title":"Popliteal cysts (Baker\u2019s cysts) in adults. II. Capsuloplasty with and without a pedicle graft","volume":"51","author":"Rauschning","year":"1980","journal-title":"Acta Orthop Scand"},{"issue":"1","key":"r23-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.1177\/03635465020300010401","article-title":"Popliteal cysts in adults. Prevalence, associated intraarticular lesions, and results after arthroscopic treatment","volume":"30","author":"Rupp","year":"2002","journal-title":"Am J Sports Med"},{"issue":"12","key":"r24-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1452","DOI":"10.1007\/s00167-007-0383-z","article-title":"Arthroscopic all-inside suture of symptomatic Baker\u2019s cysts: a technical option for surgical treatment in adults","volume":"15","author":"Calvisi","year":"2007","journal-title":"Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc"},{"issue":"1","key":"r25-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1016\/j.arthro.2003.10.017","article-title":"Popliteal cystoscopic excisional debridement and removal of capsular fold of valvular mechanism of large recurrent popliteal cyst","volume":"20","author":"Ko","year":"2004","journal-title":"Arthroscopy"},{"issue":"2","key":"r26-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.1097\/BTK.0b013e3181770477","article-title":"Arthroscopic technique for popliteal cyst treatment","volume":"7","author":"Yinghui","year":"2008","journal-title":"Tech Knee Surg"},{"issue":"10","key":"r27-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1340","DOI":"10.1016\/j.arthro.2010.02.012","article-title":"Arthroscopic treatment of popliteal cysts: clinical and magnetic resonance imaging results","volume":"26","author":"Ahn","year":"2010","journal-title":"Arthroscopy"},{"issue":"3","key":"r28-20230807","first-page":"180","article-title":"Arthroscopic treatment of popliteal cyst","volume":"17","author":"Lie","year":"2011","journal-title":"Hong Kong Med J"},{"issue":"1","key":"r29-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"182","DOI":"10.1186\/s13018-017-0670-4","article-title":"Arthroscopic internal drainage and cystectomy of popliteal cyst in knee osteoarthritis","volume":"12","author":"Jiang","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Orthop Surg Res"},{"issue":"1","key":"r30-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1016\/j.otsr.2018.09.022","article-title":"Extra-articular endoscopic excision of symptomatic popliteal cyst with failed initial conservative treatment: a novel technique","volume":"105","author":"Chen","year":"2019","journal-title":"Orthop Traumatol Surg Res"},{"key":"r31-20230807","first-page":"8","article-title":"Arthroscopic treatment of popliteal cyst using a figure-of-four position and double posteromedial portals","volume":"13","author":"Gu","year":"2018","journal-title":"Asia-Pacific J Sports Med Arthrosc Rehab Tech."},{"issue":"4","key":"r32-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.5792\/ksrr.2012.24.4.235","article-title":"Clinical results of direct arthroscopic excision of popliteal cyst using a posteromedial portal","volume":"24","author":"Cho","year":"2012","journal-title":"Knee Surg Relat Res"},{"issue":"5","key":"r33-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"772","DOI":"10.3109\/14397595.2015.1008779","article-title":"Treatment of popliteal cysts via arthroscopic enlargement of unidirectional valvular slits","volume":"25","author":"Ohishi","year":"2015","journal-title":"Mod Rheumatol"},{"issue":"2","key":"r34-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"154","DOI":"10.4103\/0019-5413.177568","article-title":"Arthroscopic management of popliteal cysts","volume":"50","author":"Pankaj","year":"2016","journal-title":"Indian J Orthop"},{"issue":"1","key":"r35-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"158","DOI":"10.1186\/s13018-017-0659-z","article-title":"A comparison of clinical efficacy between different surgical approaches for popliteal cyst","volume":"12","author":"Yang","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Orthop Surg Res"},{"issue":"6","key":"r36-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"530","DOI":"10.1007\/s00132-018-3573-0","article-title":"Clinical outcome of arthroscopic management of popliteal cysts with or without additional posterior open cystectomy","volume":"47","author":"Xinxian","year":"2018","journal-title":"Orthopade"},{"issue":"1","key":"r37-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"435","DOI":"10.1186\/s12891-016-1291-5","article-title":"Treatment of Baker cyst, by using open posterior cystectomy and supine arthroscopy on recalcitrant cases (103 knees)","volume":"17","author":"Saylik","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMC Musculoskelet Disord"},{"key":"r38-20230807","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1186\/s13018-016-0356-3","article-title":"Surgical treatment of popliteal cyst: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"11","author":"Zhou","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Orthop Surg Res"}],"container-title":["JBJS Reviews"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.2106\/JBJS.RVW.19.00139","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,26]],"date-time":"2026-08-26T13:36:30Z","timestamp":1787751390000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.2106\/JBJS.RVW.19.00139"}},"subtitle":["A Systematic Review of Nonoperative and Operative Treatment"],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,3]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2106\/jbjs.rvw.19.00139","relation":{},"ISSN":["2329-9185"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2329-9185","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,3]]}}}