Localization of the meniscus pain – popliteal fossa
Where a meniscus causes pain is different. A meniscus causes pain when it has been injured, for example by a tear or a stretch. The pain can also occur in the hollow of the knee.
Where the pain occurs depends on the location of the injury. In most cases, pain occurs laterally in the meniscus; in the popliteal fossa, it is mainly felt when the posterior horn of the meniscus has been injured. Walking or running, even standing up or stretching the knee often causes pain in the hollow of the knee.
In addition, there is a special phenomenon that is noticeable in the hollow of the knee, the so-called Baker cyst. In some cases, this occurs in addition to damage to the meniscus. The knee joint, in which the menisci are located, is surrounded by a joint skin.
When a meniscus is damaged, the inflammation increases the pressure in the joint, which the surrounding structures must yield to from a certain degree. Through the point where there is the least resistance, a bulge is then formed between two muscles in the hollow of the knee, a Baker’s cyst develops. There is a noticeable swelling in the hollow of the knee, which can cause pain.
Although other diseases of the joint can also cause this cyst, a lesion on the meniscus is a typical risk factor. The Baker’s cyst is usually detected in an MRI of the popliteal fossa, which is performed after persistent pain and swelling in the popliteal fossa. The therapy consists of treating the causes in the joint.The meniscus needs to be repaired and the inflammation controlled in order to normalize the pressure where the cyst has formed.
The cyst should only be punctured or surgically removed in an emergency, when numbness or circulatory problems occur in addition to the pain. However, this does not eliminate the cause, so that a recurrence is relatively likely. However, not all pain that occurs in the hollow of the knee is caused by a Baker cyst; damage to the meniscus alone radiates into this region just as often.
