The Meniscal Pseudocyst
The Meniscal "Pseudocyst" - A clinical sign of a torn meniscus
Rhidian Morgan-Jones, Mervyn J Cross
ABSTRACT
We report a study of 636 patients requiring meniscal knee surgery all of whom underwent detailed pre-operative assessment. 58 patients had a clinical sign of a lump on the joint line when examined at 45 degrees of flexion. Of these, only 30 patients had a meniscal cyst demonstrated at surgery. Of the remaining 28 patients, 26 had a 'parrot beak tear' of the lateral meniscus without a cyst.
From the pre-operative assessment, the importance of a specific clinical sign indicating a torn lateral meniscus was realised. This clinical sign has been termed a meniscal 'pseudocyst'.