We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Ganglion Cyst Excision?

By Amanda Barnhart
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 17,051
Share

A ganglion cyst excision is a surgical procedure to remove a fluid-filled sac from the finger, wrist, or sole of the foot. Ganglion cysts form near the joints in the wrists, fingers, or feet, and may be painful due to pressure on the surrounding nerves. These cysts do not always require surgical treatment. Immobilizing the affected area can help prevent the growth of the cyst, and draining the fluid from the cyst with a small needle can also alleviate pain and other symptoms for some patients. Patients who have ganglion cysts that do not respond to other treatment methods or cysts that keep coming back may require a ganglion cyst excision to completely cut the cyst away from the joint and tendons.

Many doctors perform a ganglion cyst excision as an in-office procedure with a local or regional anesthesia. Once the area is numb, the doctor makes an incision near the cyst to carefully cut it away with a scalpel. The most important part of the procedure is to remove the cyst entirely, including the stalk near the joint that the cyst sprouts from. The incision is then stitched closed.

In some cases, doctors can remove a ganglion cyst through an extremely small incision in a procedure called an arthroscopic ganglion cyst excision. This type of surgery uses a small camera inserted through the opening to help the surgeon locate and remove the cyst. Arthroscopic procedures typically have shorter recovery times due to the smaller incision.

Most patients recover well after the procedure and have no further problems. Rest is necessary after the surgery, and patients may need to wear a splint to keep the affected wrist, finger, or foot stationary during the healing process. Most patients go home the same day of surgery and rest the area for several days before returning to work and normal activities. Over-the-counter or prescription pain medications can relieve discomfort in the first days after surgery.

Complications following a ganglion cyst excision are rare. Patients who undergo the procedure should care for the incision as directed by their doctors. This usually includes keeping the area clean and dry as well as changing the dressing at least once or twice a day during the first days after surgery. An incision that shows signs of infection, such as swelling, redness, or seeping pus, should be evaluated so that treatment to fight the infection can be administered as quickly as possible.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By andee — On Sep 28, 2012

I had a ganglion cyst on my finger and it was really annoying. This was on the index finger of my right hand and I am right handed, so it was always in the way.

I tried having this drained a few times, but this was only a temporary fix. Unless you completely remove the sac that has the fluid in it, chances are it will just come back. This is exactly what happened to me.

If anyone has one of these, I would recommend just getting it removed and not even mess with having it drained. If you are like me, you will just end up back at the doctor because it has come back.

Thankfully, this is something that is easy to treat and easy to recover from. I had this done on a Friday afternoon and was back at work on Monday morning.

By bagley79 — On Sep 27, 2012

I had a ganglion cyst on the bottom of my foot that wasn't very big, but caused me pain when I was on my feet for very long. At the time, I was on my feet most of the day for my job, so I choose to have ganglion cyst removal surgery.

I gave myself a few days to heal up since being on my feet could aggravate the incision and slow up the healing process. I don't know what causes these cysts, but just happened to notice it one day.

Over time it kept getting a little bigger, so that is when I decided to finally have it removed. I wasn't given the option to have this done with an arthroscope, but think that would have been an even better way to go about it.

By julies — On Sep 26, 2012

When I was in college I had a friend who had a ganglion cyst on her wrist. One day she noticed this tiny bump on her wrist that she hadn't seen before and she kind of freaked out about it.

She went to the doctor right away and he told her it was nothing to be concerned about. She made an appointment to go back and have the cyst removed. She was back at school the next day, so the treatment wasn't really all that big of a deal.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-ganglion-cyst-excision.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.