Live Life Team
What is ganglion,
A ganglion is a fluid filled sac that forms around the wrist. The cyst may appear near other joints of the body. The cyst is made up of a jelly like material. Ganglions may occur after an injury and usually appears in young adults. If young children get ganglion, it generally disappears by its own without any treatment.
How is it diagnosed,
Ganglion cysts generally develop near the tendons and joints and are clearly visible. They can be moved and are less painful. So these cysts are easy to diagnose. These are sometimes confused with a bony lump on the top of the wrist.
Is it necessary to remove ganglions,
Some ganglions press on the nerve and may cause discomfort. If this happens it may cause difficulty in making fine finger movements and odd sensation feeling may be felt in the hand. Ganglions sometimes may become inflamed and cause pain. In this condition it should be operated and removed.
What happens to a ganglion if it is not operated,
If a ganglion is not operated it may shrink or start growing. It is difficult to predict whether it will get cured by itself. One must discuss the matter fully with the surgeon and the general practitioner before undergoing surgery.
How is a ganglion operated,
When a ganglion removal operation is done, the person undergoing the surgery is given local or general anaesthesia. It depends on the condition of the person being operated and is decided by the surgeon. An incision is made which is generally as wide as the lump and then the ganglion is extracted. The wound is then stitched and that area is bandaged. This prevents the wound from accidental bumps and also keeps the area clean.
What are the complications that may occur after the ganglion is operated,
Generally removal of ganglion by surgery is a very safe process. But sometimes complications may occur .The area which is operated may get infected. This can be noticed if the area becomes red and swells up. One must consult the General practitioner immediately if this condition arises. In about 30% of the cases a ganglion might cause persistent pain, thick scarring or functional limitation. In such cases one must consult the doctor before undergoing surgery.
Can ganglion be treated without surgery,
A procedure called aspiration is an alternate method for removal of ganglion. This procedure is successful in about 40% of patients.
What is aspiration,
In this process the contents of ganglion are removed with the help of a needle and syringe. This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. The process involves the following steps:
-The skin over the lump is cleaned and then made numb with the help of local anaesthetic injection.
-The contents of ganglion are removed with the needle and syringe. This procedure does not cause any pain to the patient.
-A sticky plaster is placed over the needle hole after the procedure is done. This plaster can be removed 6 hours after the procedure.
