Excision of ganglion

Ganglion cysts are the very common type of swelling in the hand and wrist. They normally contain a thick clear fluid and can arise in a variety of structures but there are four common locations in the hand and wrist –

Middle of the back of the wrist (from the scapholunate ligament)
Front of the wrist at the base of the thumb (from the wrist joint)
At the base of a finger on the palmar side (from the tendon sheath)
Back of an end joint of a finger (from the end joint).

Cause

Ganglion cysts usually arise spontaneously but, occasionally there is a history of injury or the joint is starting to develop arthritis.

Symptoms:

Swelling becomes usually noticeable which may or may not be associated with pain.

Treatment:

Explantation, reassurance, and wait to see if the cysts disappear spontaneously or not.
Removing the liquid contents of the cyst with a needle (known as aspiration) under local anesthetics
Surgical removal of the cyst.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What type of sutures are used?

A:
We use dissolving absorbable sutures which doesn’t require removal.

Q: What are the complications of ganglion surgery

A:
Although, the complications are not so common but like any surgery there is a possibility of scarring, hypertrophy, keloid formation, infection, bleeding, delayed wound healing, incomplete excision, recurrence, stiffness of the neighbouring joints and injury to the adjacent neurovascular bundle

Q: How much time is taken for the procedure for removal of ganglion?

A:
The surgery takes approximately 20 to 40 minutes. It is generally done under local or can also be done under general anesthetics

Hand Surgery