M66: Spontaneous rupture of synovium and tendon

M66.0: Rupture of popliteal cyst

The knee joint connects the thighbone (femur) to the lower leg. Around the knee joint is a joint capsule. The joint capsule contains synovial fluid so that the bones can glide by each other. There are also bursas in the knee. These bursas prevent tissue, for example muscles and tendons, from rubbing against each other.

Firstly, a cavity filled with fluid formed in the hollow of your knee. Such a cavity can form in the joint capsule or in a bursa in the knee. It can occur because of an inflammation or after an injury, for example.

The cavity in the hollow of your knee then burst. When a cavity in the hollow of your knee bursts, the knee may be painful.