Here’s another blog from a Mississauga Chiropractor…

A Ganglion Cyst is a bulge or swelling overlying a joint capsule or tendon sheath.  They can occur anywhere in the body but are most common in the wrist & hand.

 

Demographics:

1. Gender:  Females > Males (3:1)
2. Age: any age, 70% occur between age 15-35, rare to develop after age 50

 

History:

1. Patient may have complaint of wrist pain.  Consistent achiness/tenderness, increased pain with use
2. Possible history of injury or repetitive wrist activity
3. Many times occur spontaneously and are from an unknown cause

 

Observations:

1. Usually visible swelling or mass over tendons/ligaments (not always visible)
2. Characteristic local bulge
3. Fixed to the deep tissue, not to the skin

 

Management:

1. Often no treatment is required as they are usually cosmetic with occasional transient pain.  This is usually not disabling.
2. Symptomatic relief for inflammation & pain; PRICE (protect, rest, ice, compression, elevation)
3. Non-operative (usually transient result, recurrence is common – 30%-60%)
   1. Compressive wrap; button treatment – tape a button over the ganglion to apply pressure on the ganglion for several weeks.  Yet there is a strong likelihood of reoccurrence (careful not to compress the nerve or damage the skin)
4. Operative (recurrence rate of 5%-15%)
   1. Excision (ganglionectomy of cyst & splint
   2. Range of motion exercises are encouraged to restore wrist & finger mobility after surgery

 

Prognosis:

1. Recurrence rate is very common
2. Lower recurrence with surgery
3. Asymptomatic ganglion cysts should be left alone