Meniscus :
lat. horizontal tear/cyst anyone with similar - - Posted by Sedona (Sedona), 11 January 2005
Hi,
Just MRI diagnosed with lateral horizontal tear with cyst. Dr. says removing just the torn piece is his suggestion, leaving the cyst alone. He feels the cyst would most likely go away on its own. He says my outcome is only 50%. I am a runner...44. Read on the internet about the same procedure with cyst decompression? Anyone with experience with this diagnosis and good or bad surgical outcome? My symptoms have been off and on for 2 years progressively getting worse. Thanks...
Posted by pegleg78 (pegleg78), 11 January 2005
I have had multiple horizantal tears in my lateral meniscus, and I had them repaired but a year later I had to have the meniscus removed because the repairs didn't take. I would see if you OS can repair the tears becuase you will have better chance of returning to running pain free. I don't have any experience with a meniscal cyst.
Posted by Sedona (Sedona), 11 January 2005
Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, I think the tear has to be removed because it is causing the cyst and he thinks by removing the tissue the cyst will go away. I have decided to get a second opinion and I will ask about repair as an option with the new guy. Thanks again for responding.
Posted by Mcat33 (Mcat33), 12 January 2005
Hi Sedona,
Had a medial meniscus tear with a cyst. I had surgery in November 2004. He had to remove my tear beacause it was torn completely through and he wasn't able to repair it . I am also hoping my cyst decompressed too because my Dr. didn't want to make another incision to remove it if it could go away on its own. I have my six week check - up in Feb. and hopefully I will be done and over with therapy. I did find out my acl is torn 
also so considering that my knee is really doing good. i am an avid walker and most days I have little if no pain unless I over do it too much.
I wish you alot of luck with your surgery. 
Let us know how it goes.
Take care,
Michelle 
Posted by hmaxwell (Heather M.), 12 January 2005
Sedona,
I had a meniscal tear (anterior horn of lateral meniscus) with a large grape sized cyst. During my menisectomy where 10% of my lateral meniscus was removed, the cyst was also decompressed and taken care of that way. It never came back. However, your tear/cyst are in a slightly different location.
Logically, though, the cyst is only there because the meniscal tear is allowing fluid to bulge through at that location.
I can tell you that the cyst and meniscal tear have never bothered me since, but I've had other problems related to the other procedures I had during that first surgery.
Heater
PS Where did you come up with your nickname? I live in Sedona....
Posted by bwalling (bwalling), 12 January 2005
I had a medial tear and a cyst. I had the tear removed Dec 28th, and since then, the pressure in the back of the knee (presumably from the cyst) has been incredible.
Posted by Amanda (Amanda), 12 January 2005
Hi Sedona
I too had a lateral meniscal horizontal tear and an associated meniscal cyst. I had mine for quite a few years before I had it operated on. I now wish that I had left it alone as I wasn't getting that much pain in comparison with the pain my knee has given me since.
I had the tear debrided and then the cyst went away on its own after about 3 months. They didn't touch it during the surgery. 18 months later I had another surgery to the same meniscus as it had torn some more. I only have about 40% left. I am only 23.
One thing I felt confused about during the operations was why they didn't just take the top layer of my meniscus (the top part of the torn section), instead they just cut from the other direction cutting away both layers, leaving me with a rim with a stable split through it.
My OS has told me that it is very hard to repair a horizontal tear, and they are more likely to fail than other tears. Glad you are getting a 2nd opinion, I wish I had...
Feel free to IM me.
Updated Tue Oct 14 2008