Auckland Plastic Surgical Centre
Ganglions
Ganglia are benign tumours of the synovial tissue around joints or tendons, affecting the hands and feet. They commonly occur around the wrist joint, or on the backs of the fingertips, where they press on the nail bed causing fingernail grooving. When small, ganglia may cause no symptoms, but they can be removed if they become large and/or painful.
Surgery is usually done under local anaesthesia, on an outpatient basis. As ganglia are often associated with degenerative joint disease they do re-occur in about 20% of cases despite treatment. After surgery, a firm dressing and a splint are applied to reduce movement that may cause pain. The hand is elevated in a sling to reduce swelling.