In a case of a fingercyst is medical treatment always necessary?
No! Fingercysts (mucous cysts) are in many cases harmful. As long as the skin – overlying the cyst – is not very thin, it is sufficient to observe the fingercyst.
Sometimes a digital cyst resolve spontaneously
In which cases is a medical treatment necessary?
Sometime a fingercyst will rupture!
If a mucous cyst rupture, a path directly into the fingerjoint beneath the cyst is created! In such a case, bacteria from the skin could enter the joint and can cause serious infection inside the joint.
The image shows an infection of the joint near the nail, 6 days after rupture of a mucous cyst
This does not often happen. However if it occurs… this is a serious complication which requires rapid medical treatment.
Serve cases requires oral antibiotics and often surgery.
Therefore you should never perforate a mucous cyst with a needle from the household!
What should I do, if my fingercyst rupture during work?
In such case you will see a clear jelly-like content empties from your fingercyst. Don’t touch the ruptured cyst with an other finger and particularly not with your tongue. Cover the fingercyst with a sterile plaster.
[the_ad id=“1281″]Keep in mind: a rupture mucous cyst can be complicated by a serious infection of the fingerjoint. A medical examination is a safe way. Particularly, if after some days the joint hurts unusually and the skin reddens.
Which therapies are used to treat a digital cyst?
Various therapies have been proposed to treat a digital cyst. Treatment can be either nosurgical or surgical.
The risks and benefits of the treatment of a mucous cyst should be considered carefully. If you feel no or little pain and if the skin is not considerably thinned, careful observation may be appropriate.
A treatment (surgical or non surgical) should be considered, if:
-
you feel significant pain,
-
you see a groove in the nail,
-
the skin over the digital cyst is considerably thinned ( the skin is ready to rupture)
-
the cyst ruptured once or serveral times by trivial injuries
The image above shows a digital cyst. Treatment is advocated for a very thin skin (red arrow) and large nail deformity (blue arrow).
Note:
In concluding this informational paper I would like to encourage you to address all questions you may have in connection with a finger cyst (finger ganglion) with your attending physician as this document does not constitute a replacement to a personal examination or consultancy through your doctor.