Abstract
Synovial cysts of the proximal tibiofibular joint are less common than synovial cysts of the knee joint but may present in a similar fashion and may be difficult to diagnose clinically. We report three cases of such synovial cysts: (1) the synovial cyst presented as an asymptomatic lump distal to lateral joint line of the knee; (2) the synovial cyst presented as a mass fluctuating in size with intermittent symptoms; (3) a man with a large mass in proximal anterior leg and drop foot. The patients were operated. The first and the third patients were treated successfully without recurrence, and complete recovery of the proneal nerve in third case ensued. The synovial cyst recurred in the second case; however, the patient refused a second operation. Age distribution and clinical manifestation of extraneural proximal tibiofibular joint synovial cyst is discussed in the light of relevant literature.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Artico M, Cervoni L, Carloia S, Stevanato G, Mastantuono M, Nucci F (1997) Synovial cysts: clinical and neurological aspects. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 139:176–181
Barrie HJ, Barrington TW, Colwill JC, Simmons EH (1980) Ganglion migrans of the proximal tibiofibular joint causing lesions in the subcutaneous tissue, muscle, bone, or peroneal nerve: report of three cases and review of the literature. Clin Orthop 149:211–215
Damron TA, Rock MG (1997) Unusual manifestations of proximal tibiofibular joint synovial cysts. Orthopedics 20(3):225–230
Evans JD, Neumann L, Frostick SP (1994) Compression neuropathy of the common peroneal nerve caused by a ganglion. Microsurgery 15(3):193–195
Gayet LE, Mornad F, Goujon JM, Pries P, Clarac JP (1998) Compression of the peroneal nerve by a synovial cyst in a 7-year-old child. Eur J Pediatr Surg 8:61–63
Gibbon AJ, Wardell SR, Scott RD (1999) Synovial cyst of the proximal tibiofibular joint with proneal nerve compression after total knee arthroplasty. Arthroplasty 14(6):766–768
Hersekli MA, Akpinar S, Demirors H, Ozkoc G, Ozalay M, Cesur N, Uysal M, Tandogan RN (2004) Synovial cysts of proximal tibiofibular joint causing proneal nerve palsy: report of three cases and review of literature. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 124(10):711–714
Ilahi OA, Younas SA, Labbe MR, Edson SB (2003) Prevalence of ganglion cysts originating from the proximal tibiofibular joint: a magnetic resonance imaging study. Arthrosc J Arthrosc Relat Surg 19(2):150–153
Jerome D, McKendry R (2000) Synovial cyst of the proximal tibiofibular joint. J Rheumatol 27(4):1096–1098
Kapoor V, Theruvil B, Britton JM (2004) Excision arthroplasty of superior tibiofibular joint for recurrent proximal tibiofibular cyst. A report of two cases. Joint bone spine 71(5):427–429
Kelm J, Ames M, Weissenbach P, Engle C (1998) A ganglion of the superior tibiofibular joint as a mucoid-cystic degeneration of unusual location. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 6:62–66
Kabukcuoglu Y, Kabukcuoglu F, Kuzgun U, Ozturk I (1997) Compression neuropathy of the peroneal nerve caused by a ganglion. Am J Orthop 26(10):700–701
King ESJ (1932) The pathology of ganglion. Aust NZ J Surg 1:367–381
McCarthy CL, McNally EG (2004) The MRI appearance of cystic lesions around the knee. Skeletal Radiol 33(4):187–209
Muckart RD (1976) Compression of the common proneal nerve by intramuscular ganglion from the superior tibiofibular joint. J Bone Joint Surg Br 58(2):241–244
Nucci F, Artico M, Santono A (1990) Intraneural synovial cyst of the peroneal nerve: report of two cases and review of the literature. Neurosurgery 26:339–344
Pagnoux C, Lhotellien L, Marks J, Ballard M (2002) Synovial cysts of the proximal tibiofibular joint: three case reports. Joint Bone Spine 69:331–333
Schrijver FD, Simon JP, Smet LD, Fabry G (1998) Ganglia of the superior tibiofibular joint: report of three cases and review of literature. Acta Orthop Belg 64(2):233–241
Schwimmer M, Edelstein G, Heiken JP, Gilula LA (1985) Synovial cysts of the knee: CT evaluation. Radiology 154:175–177
Ward WG, Eckardt JJ (1994) Ganglion cyst of the proximal tibiofibular joint causing anterior compartment syndrome. A case report and anatomical study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 76(10):1561–1564
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mortazavi, S.M.J., Farzan, M. & Asadollahi, S. Proximal tibiofibular joint synovial cyst—one pathology with three different presentations. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthr 14, 875–879 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-005-0021-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-005-0021-6