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Cosmetic SiteGanglion Cysts
What are Ganglion Cysts?
Ganglion top side (dorsum) wrist
Gaglion Cysts are fluid-filled sacs, like small balloons, originating off of a ligament or tendon. They are caused by small breakdown in the tissue, sometimes caused by injury. They are not dangerous or painful by themselves but they often press upon surrounding nerves and cause pain, which is the most common reason for their removal.
What are the treatment options?
Ganglion end joint of finger (mucous cyst)
Conservative treatment for a ganglion cyst may include splinting or drainage of the cyst fluid with cortisone injection. Unfortunately, conservative therapy seldom gives a permanent cure and surgery to remove the cyst is necessary in the majority of cases.
Surgical removal of a ganglion cyst is very successful surgery. In our practice the success rate is over 90%. The key to preventing the cyst from recurring is to remove the area of damaged ligament that caused the cyst to form in the first place and allow it to heal back solidly.
Cross-section of wrist showing stalk (or root) of ganglion.
Surgery may be as simple as “Band-Aid surgery” in the case of a finger ganglion with immediate motion and the only discomfort coming from the incision itself. Wrist ganglions are more involved and often require splinting for several weeks afterwards and some simple hand therapy to prevent stiffness of the wrist after ganglion removal. With finger ganglions patients are able to return to normal activities usually within two weeks. With wrist ganglions the recovery is usually about 3-6 weeks. The scar will be hard and lumpy at first and may even look like the cyst is still present. The scar will soften and flatten over a full year at which point the hand would be at its maximum improvement.