Abstract
Post-steroid septic arthritis can be treated with irrigation pump assisted arthroscopic synovectomy. The high-intra-articular fluid pressures can force the pyogenic fluid into a pre-existing Baker’s cyst. The cyst can rupture and with the pre-existing steroid induced immune-suppression, the calf abscess will be hard to control. Therefore, thorough investigation with an ultrasound-guided aspiration followed by an early drainage of the collection is warranted and mandatory. Close monitoring for the development of a deep thrombosis of the popliteal vein is required.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burleson RJ, Bickel WH, Dahlin DC (1956) Popliteal cyst: a clinico-pathologic study. J Bone Joint Surg (Am) 38:1265–1274
Cawley PJ, Morris IM (1992) A study to compare the efficacy of two methods of skin preparation prior to joint injection. Br J Rheumatol 31:847–848
Charalambous CP, Tryfonidis M, Sadiq S et al (2003) Septic arthritis following intra-articular steroid injection of the knee-a survey of current practice regarding antiseptic technique used during intra-articular steroid injection of the knee. Clin Rheumatol 22:386–390
Chaudhuri R, Salari R (1990) Baker’s cyst simulating deep vein thrombosis. Clin Radiol 41:400–404
Clarke HD, Scott WN, Insall JN (2001) Anatomic aberrations. In: Insall JN, Scott WN (eds) Surgery of the knee. Churchill Livingstone, Philadelphia, p 89
Conway S, Huston G (1998) Epstein–Barr (EB) mono-arthritis leading to ruptured Baker’s cyst. J Infection 36:225–226
Curl WW (1996) Popliteal cysts: historical background and current knowledge. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 4:129–133
Doppman JL (1965) Baker’s cyst and the normal gastrocnemio-semimembranosus bursa. Am J Roentgenol 94:46–52
Drees C, Lewis T, Mossad S (1999) Baker’s cyst infection: case report and review. Clin Infect Dis 29:276–278
Fitzgerald RH Jr (1976) Intrasynovial injection of steroids: uses and abuses. Mayo Clin Proc 51:655–659
Fritschy D, Fasel J, Imbert J-C et al (2006) The popliteal cyst. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 14:623–628
Gedda PO (1954) Septic arthritis from cortisone. JAMA 155:597
Good AE (1964) Rheumatoid arthritis, Baker’s cysts, and “thrombophlebitis”. Arthritis Rheum 7:56–64
Gowans JDC, Granieri PA (1959) Septic arthritis: its relation to intra-articular injections of hydrocortisone acetate. N Engl J Med 261:502–503
Gray RG, Tenenbaum J, Gottlieb NL (1981) Local corticosteroid injection therapy in rheumatic disorders. Semin Arthritis Rheum 10:231–254
Guerra J, Newell JD, Resnick D et al (1981) Gastrocnemio-semimembranosus bursal region of the knee. Am J Roentgenol 136:593–596
Hall AP, Scott JT (1966) Synovial cysts and rupture of the knee joint in rheumatoid arthritis: an arthrographic study. Ann Rheum Dis 25:32–40
Hench PK, Reid RT, Reames PM (1966) Dissecting popliteal cyst simulating thrombophlebitis. Ann Int Med 64:1259–1264
Hollander JL (1970) Intrasynovial corticosteroid therapy in arthritis. Maryland State Med J 19:62–66
Katz RS, Zizic TM, Arnold WP et al (1977) The pseudothrombophlebitis syndrome. Medicine 56:151–164
Kendall H (1963) Local corticosteroid injection therapy. Ann Phys Med 7:31–38
Kilcoyne RF, Imray TJ, Stewart ET (1978) Ruptured Baker’s cyst simulating acute thrombophlebitis. JAMA 240:1517–1518
Kraag G, Thevathasan EM, Gordon DA et al (1976) The hemorrhagic crescent sign of acute synovial rupture. Ann Intern Med 85:477–478
Levitin PM (1976) Dissecting popliteal cyst: an unusual complication of Reiter’s syndrome. South Med J 69:1522–1523
Lindgren PG (1978) Gastrocnemio-semimembranosus bursa and its relation to the knee joint. Acta Radiol Diag 19:377–388
Lindgren PG, Rauschning W (1980) Radiographic investigation of popliteal cysts. Acta Radiol Diag 21:657–662
Pedowitz RA, Gershuni DH, Crenshaw AG et al (1989) Intra-articular pressure during continuous passive motion of the human knee. J Orthop Res 7:530–537
Rauschning W (1980) Anatomy and function of the communication between knee joint and popliteal bursae. Ann Rheum Dis 39:354–358
Richards AJ (1981) Ruptured popliteal cyst and pyogenic arthritis. Br Med J 282:1120–1121
Schmidt MC, Workman JB, Barth WF (1974) Dissection or rupture of a popliteal cyst. A syndrome mimicking thrombophlebitis in rheumatoid diseases. Arch Intern Med 134:694–698
Steward AM, Swinson DR, Hardinge K (1979) Pyogenic arthritis presenting as a ruptured popliteal cyst. Ann Rheum Dis 38:181–182
Tait GBW, Bach F, Dixon ASJ (1965) Acute synovial rupture: further observations. Ann Rheum Dis 25:273–277
Tashjian RZ, Nickisch F, Dennison D (2004) Ruptured septic popliteal cyst associated with psoriatic arthritis. Orthopedics 27:231–233
Taylor AR, Rana NA (1973) A valve: an explanation of the formation of popliteal cysts. Ann Rheum Dis 32:419–421
Vela P, Pascual E, Ronan J et al (1991) Cutaneous manifestations of ruptured popliteal cyst. Clin Rheumatol 10:340–341
Volteas SK, Labropoulos N, Leon M et al (1997) Incidence of ruptured Baker’s cyst among patients with symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. Br J Surg 84:342
Von Essen R, Savolainen HA (1989) Bacterial infection following intra-articular injection—a brief review. Scand J Rheumatol 18:7–12
von Schroeder HP, Ameli FM, Piazza D et al (1993) Ruptured Baker’s cyst causes ecchymosis of the foot. A differential clinical sign. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 75:316–317
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Corten, K., Vandenneucker, H., Reynders, P. et al. A pyogenic, ruptured Baker’s cyst induced by arthroscopic pressure pump irrigation. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 17, 266–269 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-008-0679-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-008-0679-7