Evaluation of the Characteristics of Hand and Wrist Ganglion Cysts and Their Relationship with Ligamentous Injury

Hand and Wrist Ganglion Cysts and Ligamentous Injury

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the characteristics of ganglion cysts in the hand and wrist region using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to evaluate the relationship between these cyst existence and ligamentous injuries.

Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with ganglion cysts after being evaluated with wrist MRI due to chronic wrist pain between January 2018 and December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with a history of hand or wrist trauma in the last 3 months or previous hand and wrist surgeries were excluded from the study. The ganglion cysts were assessed in terms of location, size, and accompanying to the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) and intercarpal ligament (ICL) injuries.

Results: A total of 156 patients were included in the study The average age of the patients was 37.53 (± 15.02) years. The ganglion cyst was located dorsally in 85 patients (54.5%), volarly in 68 patients (43.6%), and both dorsally and volarly in 3 patients (1.9%). TFCC injury was detected in 33 patients (21.1%). There was no statistically significant relationship between TFCC injury and cyst location (dorsal, volar) (p = 0.187). ICL injury was present in 2 patients (1.2%). Dorsal cysts were more frequent in patients younger than 40 years old.

Conclusion: The majority of patients with ganglion cysts did not have accompanying ligament injuries this finding raises doubts about the role of ligament injuries in the formation of ganglion cysts. While dorsal ganglion cysts were slightly more common overall, the frequency of volar localization increased with age.