Wrist Ganglion Cysts

Ganglion cysts are essentially herniations of the wrist joint capsules. Inside them there is a material with the same properties as thick, slippery joint fluid. As a general rule, this swelling grows as your activity increases and, conversely, shrinks in periods when your activity decreases.

Although the causes that initiate the mechanism of ganglion formation are still not certain today, they are seen more frequently in people who constantly have to put load on the wrist. They are seen more frequently in women than in men.

Although the diagnosis of ganglion can be made by clinical examination, a wrist MRI examination will be useful to determine exactly the joint space from which the cyst originates, and to clarify whether the condition arises from a joint disorder due to rheumatic disease or from a bone tumour.

The main treatment of ganglion cysts is surgery. However, in the early stages conservative treatments can be used to buy time before surgery. Since the size of the ganglion will increase with activity, follow-up with a wrist brace or cast immobilisation may be recommended. If after this treatment the pain decreases or the ganglion shrinks, treatment aimed at increasing the range of motion of the wrist can be started. Aspiration of the fluid inside the ganglion is not a recommended procedure. First of all, because the fluid is very thick, it cannot be removed effectively. In addition, this procedure may cause the fluid inside the cyst to become infected. Also, a point that should not be forgotten is that the ganglion will recur after this procedure. The aim of surgical treatment is not to empty the contents of the cyst but to remove the cyst wall as a whole and repair the herniated joint space. In this way an attempt is made to minimise the risk of the complaint recurring. After surgery, until healing is complete and pain decreases, the wrist is stabilised by being immobilised with a splint.