Factors affecting Baker cyst volume, with emphasis on cartilage lesion degree and effusion in the young and middle-aged population

BACKGROUND: The principal aim of this study was to investigate the presence of factors affecting Baker’s cyst volume in young and middle-aged populations. METHODS: Open cyst excision with valve and capsule repair, as well as knee arthroscopy, were used to treat eighty-five patients. The cases were categorized in terms of age, effusion, chondral lesion degree, meniscal tear degree, and Lindgren scores. An ultrasonography (USG) device was used to calculate the cyst volume. The IBM-SPSS 22 program was used for statistical analysis and to assess the relationships between variables using Spearman’s correlation tests. RESULTS: The degree of chondral lesion was moderately and positively correlated with cyst volume in the total population (correlation coefficient: 0.469; p < 0.05). The degree of the chondral lesion was moderately and positively correlated with the degree of effusion (correlation coefficient: 0.492; p < 0.005). The cyst volume was weakly and positively correlated with the degree of effusion (correlation coefficient: 0.20; the correlation was at the limits of statistical significance p = 0.07 < 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that an increase in chondral lesion severity increases the amount of effusion and cyst volume.