How do you remove ganglion from a hand?

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Ganglion cysts are firm sacs on a hand that are filled with fluid and can appear suddenly. Ganglion cysts develop from tissue in the body and are quite common and not cancerous. Though ganglion cysts can happen at any point in the body, they are most often found on the hand, especially on the wrists. Ganglion cysts are developed when fluid in the body that is used to naturally lubricate the joints and tendons leaks and then creates a sac, in this case, a cyst.

The most common symptom of ganglion cysts is swelling in the affected area. There can be considerable pain and discomfort if the ganglion cyst is located on a nerve and applies pressure to that nerve. Ganglion cysts are often rounded and smooth and come in various sizes. The size of a ganglion cyst does not matter as they can get bigger or smaller as time goes on, and can even vanish on their own for a while and then reappear later on.

It is not known why leaking fluid from the tendon or joint creates a ganglion cyst. Women have a higher tendency of getting ganglion cysts than men. The most common age for getting ganglion cysts is between the ages of 20 and 40. Most ganglion cysts occur after a person experiences an injury to the hand or wrist, or after placing a large amount of stress on a tendon or a joint. A common example of individuals who receive ganglion cysts are gymnasts. Even with these factors, some individuals find ganglion cysts on their hands and wrist even when they have not experienced an injury or stress to the area.

To make an accurate diagnosis, a medical professional can quickly examine the lump, ask questions in regards to relative symptoms, and possibly take a bright light to the lump to make sure the fluid in the cyst is clear and not infected. The medical professional might want to draw fluid from the ganglion cyst or take an x-ray, MRI, or ultrasound to make sure it is ganglion.

There are various treatments in the removal of ganglion cysts. Long ago, ganglion cysts were known as “bible bumps.” This is because the cure for ganglion cysts was to take a bible and hit the cyst with it very hard in an effort to burst the cyst. However, in more modern times, hitting a ganglion cyst with a bible is not recommended as it will be very painful, can cause permanent damage, and is not likely to resolve the problem as the ganglion cyst can always return.

The common non-surgical management of ganglion cysts is to have the cyst drained in order to decrease the swelling of the cyst. This is a common medical process called aspiration. A medical professional takes a needle which is then used to perforate the cyst, to allow fluid to be drained out. Local anesthesia is used for aspiration of ganglion cysts. Local anesthesia numbs the skin on and around the ganglion cyst, but the patient remains conscious throughout the procedure. Although aspiration decreases the swelling of a ganglion cyst, it does not remove the whole problem as the ganglion cyst is likely to return at a later date. Some medical professionals, after aspiration, will use a steroid injection to decrease the amount of inflammation and alleviate pain.

The surgical option available for the removal of ganglion cysts often occurs if aspiration does not solve the problem. The surgical option includes removing the skin where the ganglion cyst is located and taking out the ganglion cysts from the tendon or joint. The skin is then replaced and the whole area is sewn up with stitches and bandaged. This is a one day procedure where the patient is put under local anesthesia or regional anesthesia. If there is one large ganglion cyst with numerous smaller ganglion cysts in one area, a doctor might recommend putting the patient under general anesthesia, meaning that they will be asleep during the entire process. Most ganglion cyst removal surgeries heal after two to six weeks.

Resource by A.Moore

I just moved to Michigan from South Carolina. This is my first winter here and so far it's freezing. I enjoy traveling, drawing, camping, writing, and doing community service in my spare time. I work for a education company and help them with their outreach to teachers and students. Hope everyone enjoys my articles.

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