Ganglion Cysts
Shoulder Surgery - Adelaide Orthopaedic Specialists
Ganglion cysts are fluid-filled lumps that commonly develop in the hand and wrist. They grow and extend from joints into the tissues that surround joints. They can put pressure on surrounding structures such as ligaments, tendon sheaths, nerves and vessels.
What are Ganglion Cysts?
Ganglion cysts are fluid-filled lumps that can develop in the hand and wrist. They grow from joints into the tissues that surround joints. They can put pressure on surrounding structures such as ligaments, tendon sheaths, nerves and vessels. Although symptomatic ganglions most commonly occur close to the tendons on the back of the wrist, ganglion cysts can be seen at the base of the fingers; and sometimes at the elbow, or lower limb near the knee (known as a Baker’s cyst), ankles, or feet.
Ranging in size from that of a pea to a few centimetres in diameter, Ganglion cysts may quickly appear, change size, and disappear. They are mostly harmless, non-cancerous, and do not often require treatment.
Sometimes Ganglion cysts can press on a nerve, vessel or tendon; or interfere with joint function. If a cyst becomes painful or begins to impede hand or wrist mobility, there are a number of treatment options available to resolve the issue.
Ganglion cyst symptoms
Most people notice a soft lump or swelling that may change in size or even disappear and reappear over time. Although many ganglion cysts don’t produce any symptoms, some can become painful if they grow large enough to put pressure on a joint’s nerves.
Sometimes this pain gets worse when moving next to joints. The affected tendon may also cause a sensation of muscle weakness in the hand or wrist. Shining a light on the cyst to assess translucency can help determine if it is full of water or something else.
Causes and risk factors
The exact reason why Ganglion cysts develop is unknown. It’s theorised that they may be part of the body’s response to trauma or overuse, or perhaps the result of small tears in the tendon membrane that cause lubricating fluid to leak.
That being said, certain factors are believed to increase the risk of developing ganglion cysts. These risk factors include:
- Gender and age – Ganglion cysts most commonly develop in women between 15 and 40 years of age.
- Joint or tendon injury – Previous injuries to joint or tendons may increase risk.
- Osteoarthritis – People with arthritis in their finger joints may develop mucous cysts.
- Stress – Gymnasts who repeatedly apply stress to the hands and wrists commonly develop this condition.
How are Ganglion cysts diagnosed?
If you suspect you have a ganglion cyst forming, it’s important to get it checked out to ensure it’s not a symptom of another illness. Our orthopaedic surgeons can assess your lump to determine if it is a ganglion or something else.
- During your appointment, your specialist will consider your medical history, discuss your symptoms, and perform a physical examination of the affected area. During this exam, your surgeon will apply gentle pressure to identify any tenderness.
- Generally, this physical examination is all that is needed. However, other tests may sometimes be required to assist with diagnosis. These may include:
- An ultrasound to view how solid the cyst is
- An MRI to examine cyst/s that are not visible and assess the relationship of a ganglion to an adjacent nerve, vessel and/or tendons
- X-ray tests are sometimes used to rule out other coincident conditions such as arthritis
Ganglion cyst treatment options
In the past, Ganglion cysts were ‘treated’ by slamming a heavy object on them. This is not a recommended management and could cause injury.
If a cyst is not causing any pain or interfering with movement, our specialists may advise observation over time. Because Ganglion cysts are not cancerous and often disappear eventually, you may be simply monitored to ensure no unusual changes occur.
As activity often causes a ganglion cyst to grow, sometimes immobilisation is recommended. A wrist brace or splint may aid with this. If a cyst decreases in size, your doctor may prescribe a gentle physiotherapy regime to strengthen the wrist.
Another non-surgical option is an aspiration under ultrasound. This involves numbing the area and puncturing the cyst with a needle so fluid can be withdrawn. Sometimes, a steroid is injected into the lesion in an attempt to decrease its size and stimulate resorption. This technique is rarely successful. The ganglion will most likely grow back as the ‘root’ cause is not removed.
If the above methods don’t resolve the issue, surgery may be recommended.
Surgery for Ganglion cysts
If a Ganglion cyst doesn’t respond to non-surgical treatment or is causing compressive symptoms such as pain, your specialist may recommend surgery.
Surgery involves removing the cyst. Known as excision, this procedure is performed under general anaesthetic using minimally-invasive techniques wherever possible. Patients are treated in an operating theatre in a hospital and usually return home the day of surgery.
Some tenderness and discomfort may occur after surgery and you may be fitted with a splint for up to 2 weeks (depending on the position and size of the joint capsular repair required). Depending on the location and size of the excised cyst, full recovery can take anywhere between two to eight weeks.
One of our specialists will monitor your recovery and guide you as you return your hand or wrist to full function. Some light exercises may be prescribed to help your hand or wrist heal and strengthen.
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