Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 02/17/2009
Patients are given a local or regional anesthetic in a doctor's office. Two methods are used to remove the cysts. Most physicians use the more conservative procedure, which is known as aspiration.
Aspiration
- An 18- or 22-gauge needle attached to a 20–30-mL syringe is inserted into the cyst. The doctor removes the fluid slowly by suction.
- The doctor may inject a corticosteroid medication into the joint after the fluid has been withdrawn.
- A compression dressing is applied to the site.
- The patient remains in the office for about 30 minutes.
Excision
Some ganglion cysts are so large that the doctor recommends excision. This procedure also takes place in the physician's office with local or regional anesthetic.
Excision of a ganglion cyst is performed as follows:
- The physician palpates, or feels, the borders of the sac with the fingers and marks the sac and its periphery.
- The sac is cut away with a scalpel.
- The doctor closes the incision with sutures and applies a bandage.
- The patient is asked to remain in the office for at least 30 minutes.
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Other Information
Ganglion cyst removal, or ganglionectomy, is the removal of a fluid-filled sac on the skin of the wrist, finger, or sole of the foot. The cyst is attached to a tendon or a joint through its fibers and contains synovial fluid, which is the clear liquid that lubricates the joints and tendons of the body. The surgical procedure is performed in a doc tor's office. It entails aspiration, or draining fluid from the cyst with a large hypodermic needle. The cyst may also be excised (removed by cutting).
From http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Fi-La/Ganglion-Cyst-Removal.html
Other Information
New procedures like minimally invasive procedures are often subject to scrutiny, but I think that one of the biggest problems facing these innovative procedures is for people to understand exactly what we do.
-Dr. Michael Perry, Laser Spine institute
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