Aetiology
Primary cysts:
- these are thought to be caused by repeated small trauma of the bursa related to muscle contraction (1).
Secondary cysts:
these are more common than primary cysts and are thought to be caused by a combination of weakness around the knee, internal pathology and valvular opening between the knee joint and bursa. Triggers include:
- meniscal tears
- anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency
- degenerative cartilage lesions (2)
Other rare aetiological factors causing popliteal cysts include:
- infectious arthritis
- polyarthritis
- villonodular synovitis
- some connective tissue disorders
- osteochondritis - in children (2)
Reference:
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