A reliable surgical treatment for digital mucous cysts

J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2014 Oct;39(8):856-60. doi: 10.1177/1753193413508540. Epub 2013 Oct 25.

Abstract

There is no clear consensus about the best operative technique for the treatment of digital mucous cysts. We carried out a retrospective review of all patients who underwent excision of a digital mucous cyst using a local advancement skin flap over a 10-year period. A total of 69 patients were included and were reviewed at an average of 38 months (minimum 6 months) post-operatively. No patients were lost to follow-up. There was only one case of cyst recurrence. Of these 67 patients were happy with the scar and 63 patients said they would have the procedure again; 36 patients had a pre-operative nail deformity and 21 reported that the deformity grew out after the procedure.

Keywords: Digital mucous cyst; advancement skin flap; operative technique.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cysts / complications
  • Cysts / surgery*
  • Female
  • Fingers / surgery*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nails, Malformed / etiology
  • Nails, Malformed / surgery
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Recurrence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sensation Disorders / etiology
  • Surgical Flaps*
  • Surgical Wound Infection / etiology
  • Surgical Wound Infection / therapy