Therapy of a Baker's cyst

Therapy of the Baker's cyst

In principle, the Baker's cyst conservative and operational Differentiate treatment options. Basically, you start therapy with a conservative approach and try to avoid surgery. If these non-operative methods, however after 6 months no cure or at least a significant improvement in symptoms (please refer: Symptoms of a Baker's cyst) should be able to provide a surgical intervention should be considered.

In some cases it makes sense to think about an operation directly, for example if the Baker's cyst is the result of a Meniscus damage to prevent cysts from forming again. Of course it is Cause of the Baker's cyst (in addition to the extent of the complaints such as pain and swelling) generally a criterion according to which the decision between conservative and surgical therapy is based, among other things.

When a Baker's cyst by means of Incidental finding is diagnosed or is not large and does not cause any complaints, is usually even no therapy necessary, which is not infrequently the case.

At the heart of the conservative treatment A Baker's cyst is not about removing the cyst, but about remedying the cause of the Knee joint damage, as this is the only way to improve the symptoms in the long term.

Any underlying disease, be it a disease of the knee joint itself or, for example, as is very often the case, a disease from the rheumatic form circle, this should always be treated first or at least at the same time.

In addition, the drug therapy a Baker's cyst Painkiller for use. The first choice here are anti-inflammatory drugs from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These preparations include, among others Ibuprofen and Diclofenac. These have the advantage that they also have a positive effect on what is often found in parallel rheumatism impact.
In contrast, can too Steroids be given, among which the main representative the Cortisone is. While this drug proves to be highly effective, it is because of the long list Side effects Not given lightly by most doctors.
However, if you have decided on this medication, it is advisable to inject the cortisone directly into the knee joint using a syringe. The advantage here is that the Inflammatory process can be contained directly on site. However, due to the side effects, this treatment is recommended at most three times a year perform.
In addition, the gift of Hyaluronic acid proven. This is a substance that also occurs naturally in the Cartilage tissue occurs and can shut down the formation of water, which is hoped that the Baker's cyst regresses.

There is also the option of puncturing a Baker's cyst. It will Water in the knee that has accumulated is withdrawn with a syringe and then the remaining "Empty" cyst again with one cortisone drug flushed through.

If none of this shows any effect, then becomes surgery advised. The goal of this procedure is to remove the entire cyst. The greatest difficulty for the surgeon is that the Baker's cyst has a so-called stalk, so practically a connector, is connected to the joint capsule. It is essential that this connecting piece also be removed, otherwise the risk of a new cyst (Relapse) massively increased.
However, care must be taken that the sensitive joint capsule is not damaged. Despite a correctly performed operation, always remains Residual riskthat there will be one time in a patient's later life Relapse will come, especially if an underlying medical condition like rheumatism is not treated or not treated adequately. When the tissue has been removed, this will normally turn into a laboratory sent to have it examined. This exam is done routinely to make sure the cyst is not malignant neoplasm, so one tumor, acts.
Since the operation is not a major procedure, it does not take long and it takes place orthopedic surgeon Almost part of the routine, there are seldom complications during this procedure. As with any operation, however, there is of course a certain risk following the procedure on one Wound infection to get sick.

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The knee joint is one of the joints with the greatest stress.

Therefore, the treatment of the knee joint (e.g. meniscus tear, cartilage damage, cruciate ligament damage, runner's knee, etc.) requires a lot of experience.
I treat a wide variety of knee diseases in a conservative way.
The aim of any treatment is treatment without surgery.

Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.

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Conservative therapy

Initially, the Baker cyst should be treated conservatively.

The aim of therapy is to remove any Relieve pain and a progression inflammatory processes and the swelling to stop.
Since the Baker's cyst often also causally Cartilage damage or Meniscus lesions can be caused, one therapy includes not only the Baker's cyst itself but also the disease on which it is based.
A Bakerzsyte does not always have to be in the hollow of the knee treated surgically become. If the patient is symptom-free or if his mobility is not restricted by the swelling, the Baker's cyst initially becomes conservative, that is without surgery, treated.
The medical therapy involves the administration of anti-inflammatory drugs. These include, for example Diclofenac or Ibuprofen. Some doctors also treat the cyst cortisone medication. These are then administered directly to the knee using a syringe. The drug can develop its effect directly on site and very quickly. Cortisone is an endogenous substance that Inflammatory reactions reduced, but at the same time brings some side effects depending on the dose. A good consultation with the attending physician is therefore necessary here. A cortisone treatment controversial among specialists. Another topical drug is that Hyaluronic acid, a substance also produced by the body itself, but which can also be produced synthetically. Hyaluronic acid has the property To bind water. This is used in the treatment to remove the excess fluid in the hollow of the knee. The Baker's cyst often regresses successfully. Other conservative options for reducing pain are movement-adapted physical therapy such as Cold treatments.

physical therapy

With the help of physical therapy the symptoms should be reduced and the patient should have a normal, pain-free everyday life. It involved learning Stretching and strength exercises, those who Muscles Strengthen in the immediate vicinity of the hollow of the knee. This includes, for example, regular bending and stretching of the knee joints. On the one hand, this promotes the stability of the Joints and menisci, which can be fundamentally responsible for the development of the Baker's cyst due to overload. In consultation with the therapist and the attending physician, sports such as To go biking and swim promote the healing process. Furthermore, the affected person is shown how to move correctly, for example how to bend over or squat down correctly, so that overuse of the affected knee is avoided. That too Gentle in the form of high beds or bandages are contents of physiotherapy.

Homeopathy for a Baker's cyst

In addition to a number of different therapy options, one Baker's cyst the possibility of treating the condition using homeopathic remedies is often discussed.
From today's medical point of view, homeopathic treatment of a Baker's cyst cannot be recommended!
Homeopathic remedies, which are supposed to help with a Baker's cyst, have so far not been able to provide any significant evidence that they are effective against the disease.
For this reason, medical advice should always precede any self-treatment with homeopathic remedies for a Baker's cyst.

The attending physician can explain the therapy options available and possibly give an assessment of the extent to which it makes sense to take homeopathic remedies, possibly in addition to conservative or surgical treatment.
As a general rule, side effects of homeopathic therapy cannot usually be assumed. However, if the Baker's cyst is treated with homeopathy alone, there is still a risk of the disease progressing.

surgery

Surgical removal of the Baker's cyst.

Surgical removal of the Baker's cyst usually comes as a last therapeutic agent in question if the conservative treatment to no avail remains and the patient, despite everything, does not report any alleviation of his symptoms for weeks or months. During this surgical procedure under anesthesia First, a relatively large skin incision is made in the hollow of the knee above the cyst to be palpated. The operation can also be performed as part of a reflection (Arthroscopy) occur. The fluid-filled cyst is then exposed from the surrounding tissue so that it is only anchored deep in the knee joint via its root.
Of the The cyst stem is tied off and separated so that the cyst can be removed as a whole. Depending on the size of the cyst, one will remain Skin scar. The cyst is completely removed, yet there is a recurrence that means one Relapse arises, not infrequently. The surrounding tissue can also be examined in the laboratory to simultaneously detect a malignant one Tumor disease to exclude. After the operation, the actual cause of the cyst formation must be treated fundamentally in order to ultimately avoid a recurrence.

Puncture of the Baker's cyst

The Puncture of a Baker's cyst is a frequently used option for treating the disease.
The attending physician inserts a needle into the Baker cyst and removes the fluid it contains. However, withdrawing the fluid alone rarely has the promised effect, since the inflammation responsible for the cyst is still present and the cyst is likely to fill up again.

There are several ways that can prevent the cyst from recurring. So there is a possibility that anti-inflammatory drugswhich are taken orally, can treat inflammation in the knee joint. The second option is to use the previously drained cyst Cortisone to wash around.
Cortisone is anti-inflammatory and can prevent the cyst from recurring. A bandage, which is placed around the knee joint after the puncture, can also ensure the success of the puncture.

The puncture of a Baker cyst is not without risks and should only be carried out after detailed medical advice. The puncture itself should not be understood as a curative measure but as an intervention that alleviates symptoms.

Puncture of a Baker's cyst in children

The Baker's cyst is most common in children innate and can reach sizes like a hen's egg. After a certain degree, the children are restricted in their freedom of movement and feel especially when bending the knee joint Pain.
By means of a Puncture pinching of the cyst can be avoided. Depending on the age of the child, the minimally invasive intervention in local anesthesia or in one brief anesthesia be carried out as the children should lie quietly and do not find the implementation frightening. A suitable puncture needle is used to puncture above the palpable cyst and sucks off the contents of the liquid with the help of a syringe. Since the contents of the cyst have now been removed, the symptoms, especially a restriction and entrapment in the flexion of the knee, rapidly decrease, but there is one recurrence of a cyst very likely. It is therefore necessary to treat the causal disease.

Therapy of a Baker's cyst in children

While in adults a Baker's cyst usually forms due to a degenerative joint disease, Baker's cyst in children often develops without an apparent cause.
In most cases, a weak connective tissue in the affected child promotes the development of the cyst.

Furthermore, inflammatory diseases, some of which occur in childhood, can be responsible for the development of Baker's cyst.
Especially when joint effusions occur as part of an inflammation, the development of a Baker's cyst is likely in the course of the disease. It should be a Ultrasound diagnostics carried out so that other diseases can be excluded.

The treatment of a Baker's cyst in a child is less expensive than in an adult, since the cysts in children often go away on their own and so often no therapy is necessary. In some cases a puncture of the cyst may be necessary in order to relieve the joint and restore a possibly restricted mobility. The surgical removal of the Baker's cyst is rarely necessary in children.