eMedicine Specialties > Orthopedic Surgery > Hand & Upper Extremity
Ganglions: Follow-up
Updated: Apr 10, 2008
Outcome and Prognosis
Given that ganglions are benign lesions, the overall prognosis is excellent with open surgical treatment. Recurrence rates of 10-15% are typically reported. Excision of the cyst with a small ring of capsule has been shown to reduce the recurrence to 4% when compared with resection of the cyst alone (13-40%).
Osterman and Raphael found that arthroscopic treatment was also safe and reliable.10 They had recurrences equal to those reported with open procedures. Arthroscopic resection also resulted in smaller surgical scars.
Sanders reported dramatic improvement of function and relief of pain in selected patients who had a suspected occult ganglion.11
Future and Controversies
Currently, the only controversial treatment for dorsal wrist ganglions is arthroscopy. Many articles support the use of the arthroscopy for ganglion excisions.
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| Overview: Ganglions |
| Workup: Ganglions |
| Treatment: Ganglions |
Follow-up: Ganglions |
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References
Hooper G. Cystic swellings. In: Bogumill GB, Fleegler EJ, eds. Tumors of the Hand and Upper Limb. Churchill Livingstone;1993:172-82.
Thornburg LE. Ganglions of the hand and wrist. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. Jul-Aug 1999;7(4):231-8. [Medline].
Angelides AC. Ganglions of the hand and wrist. In: Green DP, Hotchkiss RN, eds. Operative Hand Surgery. 3rd ed. Churchill Livingstone;1993:2157-71.
Oztürk K, Esenyel CZ, Demir BB, Sönmez MM, Kara AN. [Occult scapholunate ganglion in patients with dorsoradial wrist pain]. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. Nov-Dec 2007;41(5):349-54. [Medline].
Darcy PF, Sorelli PG, Qureshi F, Orakwe S, Ogufere W. Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by an intraosseous ganglion of the capitate. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg. 2004;38(6):379-81. [Medline].
Arabori M, Kitazawa H, Akisue T, Kuroda R, Fujioka H, Doita M, et al. Intraosseous ganglion of the phalanx. Clin Imaging. Jan-Feb 2008;32(1):73-6. [Medline].
Cheng JW, Tang SF, Yu TY, Chou SW, Wong AM, Tsai WC. Sonographic features of soft tissue tumors in the hand and forearm. Chang Gung Med J. Nov-Dec 2007;30(6):547-54. [Medline].
Wang G, Jacobson JA, Feng FY, Girish G, Caoili EM, Brandon C. Sonography of wrist ganglion cysts: variable and noncystic appearances. J Ultrasound Med. Oct 2007;26(10):1323-8; quiz 1330-1. [Medline].
Kayalar M, Vatansever A, Bal E, Toros T, Ozaksar K, Ada S. [The importance of finger extension test in the diagnosis of occult wrist ganglion]. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2007;41(1):42-7. [Medline].
Osterman AL, Raphael J. Arthroscopic resection of dorsal ganglion of the wrist. Hand Clin. Feb 1995;11(1):7-12. [Medline].
Sanders WE. The occult dorsal carpal ganglion. J Hand Surg [Br]. Jun 1985;10(2):257-60. [Medline].
Dias JJ, Dhukaram V, Kumar P. The natural history of untreated dorsal wrist ganglia and patient reported outcome 6 years after intervention. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. Oct 2007;32(5):502-8. [Medline].
Further Reading
Keywords
hand tumors, wrist tumors, dorsal wrist ganglions, ganglion cyst, occult dorsal ganglions, volar wrist ganglions, intraosseous ganglion cysts
Follow-up: Ganglions