Ganglion Cyst in Wrist

A type of lump, which appears next to a joint or a tendon is referred to as ganglion cyst. It can occur near any of the joints, however ganglion cyst in wrist is seen more often. These cysts are also known as 'Bible cysts'. Ganglion cysts can be found at different places on the wrist. These cysts are usually seen on top of wrist, underside of the wrist, i.e. between the thumb and the pulse point, or at the end joint of a finger or the base of a finger. If a ganglion cyst is seen on top of the wrist, it is referred to as dorsal ganglion. Read more on wrist ganglion cyst symptoms, wrist ganglion cyst treatment and wrist ganglion cyst removal in the paragraphs given below.

Wrist Ganglion Cyst Symptoms

The most common symptom of ganglion cyst in wrist is swelling. These cysts are actually benign fluid filled capsules. They are not cancerous and also, they do not spread to other parts of the body. However, they can certainly increase in size. The ganglion grows out of a joint and resembles a balloon on a stalk. Ganglions are located on the connective tissues between bones and muscles. The fluid in these sacs is slippery fluid and is similar to the fluid in the joints.

These cysts are fluid filled sacs and they put pressure on the nerves that pass through the joint. Most of these ganglion cysts are also painful. The more activity of the area, the more these cysts to increase in size. However, as soon as the wrist gets some rest, the size of the cyst decreases.

Causes of Ganglion Cyst in Wrist

The causes of these ganglion cysts are still unknown. It is, however, observed that women are more prone to ganglion cysts than men. Gymnasts or people, who repeatedly stress out and apply pressure to their wrists are said to suffer from ganglion cysts. Ganglion cysts can also be caused due to the overuse of computers. According to statistics, about 70% of the time, this cyst is seen in people between the ages of 20 and 40 years.

Wrist Ganglion Cyst Treatment

It is important to get the cyst diagnosed from your health care professional. This will ensure that the cyst is indeed a ganglion cyst and there is nothing serious about it. Depending on the type of cyst, the treatment of ganglion cyst in wrist differs.

Normally, ganglion cysts go away on their own, but there are also cysts that tend to grow larger. You will have to adopt a wait and watch policy to check if the cyst disappears on its own. You will have to make sure, that there is nothing more serious happening to the cyst. Sometimes, these cysts form a type of one way valve, due to which the fluid enters the cyst, but there is no way for it to get out. These cysts, at times become very big and cause immense pain. Hence, they might have to be removed.

One of the simple method to help in the treatment of ganglion cyst is wrist immobilization. This is so because activity increases pressure on the nerves that give rise to pain. You may need to use a hand splint to support the area and decrease the pressure on the nerves. When the size of the cyst decreases, you can also talk to your health care professional for some wrist strengthening exercises.

Wrist ganglion cyst removal can be done using a number of methods. In some cases, a needle is inserted into the ganglion cyst and the fluid is aspirated out of the cyst. Many a time, the fluid inside the cyst does not come out very well through the needle. At the same time, more often than not, the cyst lining cannot be extracted, causing the cyst to return more than 50% of the times.

The other method of wrist ganglion cyst removal is by using surgical procedures. In this procedure, the fluid in the ganglion cyst along with the sac is removed, using local anesthesia. Along with the removal of the fluid and sac, the connection to the joint that supplied the fluid is closed. This treatment is normally effective,but there are chances, that a small percentage of removed wrist ganglion may return. The patient can resume normal activities in about two to six weeks after the surgery.

Most of the time, ganglion cyst in wrist normally does not pose a health hazard. However, it is always good to have your mind tension-free and get it checked from your health care professional. According to studies, about one third to two third of the wrist ganglion cysts go away on their own, without any treatment.