Hygroma on hand

The hygroma on the arm is a benign connective tissue node that appears in the area of the tendon or joint. This small formation by the type of cyst, the size of a few millimeters to 10 centimeters in diameter, is often localized in the area of the wrist, wrist joint.

The hygroma is usually not very painful, or even does not cause trouble to its owner, except that it spoils the appearance of the wrist, especially with a considerable amount of education.

In childhood, the hygroma appears rarely, mainly can occur in women and men 20-40 years.

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Causes of hygroma on the arm

The causes of hygroma on the arm are metaplastic changes of collagen fibers of connective tissue and filling them with synovial fluid, which eventually thickens. Often, specific reasons for the appearance of these changes can not be detected, but they assume the involvement of a hereditary factor, professional characteristics, frequent traumatization of the brush.

Hereditary factor implies the possibility of the appearance of hygroma in the immediate relatives, if one of them is predisposed to such a disease.

Hygroma can occur in representatives of some professions, whose activities provide for an increased load on the joints of the upper extremities. They are typists, knitters, pianists, programmers, masseurs and other similar professions.

The formation of hygroma can be associated with the periodic trauma of the tendon sheath or synovial joint bag, with frequent physical exertion on the joint.

Inflammation of the tendon sheath or the joint itself can also provoke the appearance of a hygroma: in such a situation, the metabolism in the periarticular region plays a role.

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Symptoms of hygroma on hand

At visual inspection the hygroma looks like a small tumor-like formation, clearly manifested under the skin. This tumor can exist in the singular, or be located multiple on one or more joints. The formation can be both dense and elastic to the touch, connected to nearby tissues, but the skin above it should be free to move.

Hygroma usually develops extremely slowly, in the early stages may be completely invisible. However, with an increase in education, discomfort may occur after physical exercise, restriction of movements in the joint, aching ineffectual pain during exercise (due to stretching of the synovial bag).

A tumor of considerable size is easily traumatized by careless movements, it causes a lot of inconveniences, not to mention the aesthetic side of the issue.

Squeezing of small vessels and nerve endings is manifested in the form of numbness and tingling in the joint or fingers, aching pain, congestive phenomena of hemostasis. With a sharp depression of the tumor, a sharp pain may appear, radiating to the entire surface of the hand.

It happens that the tumor-like formation seems to disappear, but then again appears: this is due to the peculiarities of the location of the hygroma in relation to the joint in which it has the opportunity to "hide".

There is also such an option when the hygroma is located in the subglottic space: pain and discomfort are present, and external manifestations of the tumor are not noticeable.

Skin over the formation is usually not modified, rarely seen thickening of the skin, peeling, hyperemia. Such cases, as well as the rapid growth of hygroma require urgent advice of a specialist.

Hygroma of the hand

The hygroma of the hand usually has small dimensions, it is closely related to the synovial bag and tendons, since for its growth it uses liquid from their cavities. It can appear for a few days, and it can be very slow.

The carpal arrangement of the hygroma is often referred to as the "synovial cyst": it is a dense formation in a specific area of the tendons of the flexor musculature. Such a tumor is firmly connected with the nearest joint, therefore it provokes the appearance of pain sensations and motor discomfort phenomena. The general and local body temperature does not increase, the color of the skin over the tumor-like formation does not change.

The hygroma of the hand is the most common type of gigrom. It is characterized by small dimensions and a fairly firm consistency, reminiscent of the cartilaginous or bone segment. The tumor has a characteristic property of a slight increase during exercise, and in the rest period again decrease.

Hygroma on the finger

Hygroma on the finger is relatively rare, so it is sometimes confused with manifestations of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, rickets, in which the appearance of such nodules is possible. By itself, the finger hygroma rarely provokes complications, although it can manifest as a consequence of other joint diseases.

A tumor can arise as a result of deforming arthrosis of some joints. Its most common location is in the area of distal interphalangeal joints: a tumor-like formation with synovial fluid content appears in the phalanx of the nail, next to the nail base.

The arising neoplasm can exert excessive pressure on the growth site of the nail, provoking its deformation.

Diagnosed with such a hygroma quite easily, visually it looks like a small subcutaneous tight knot. When the tumor is located in the region of the flexor musculature of the finger with flexion-extensor movements, pronounced tenderness and deterioration of the joint function may appear.

Hygroma on the wrist

More than 70% of the synovial formations appear on the back of the wrist. The palmar and lateral surfaces, the area of the outer transverse ligament, do not suffer so often. Sometimes the appearance of a hygroma can be observed in the central part of the wrist joint, closer to the thumb of the hand.

The causes of hygroma on the wrist can be repeated joint trauma or significant stress on it, as well as previous surgical interventions on the wrist.

These tumorous formations occur when the joint capsule is thinning as a result of injuries or pathological processes. Disturbances in the tissue structure contribute to the formation of peculiar hernias from such a capsule, which are the extrusion of the weakened layer by the joint fluid, moving nearby tissues.

The hygroma is a harmless benign tumor that can develop for a long period without causing any trouble. Such tumors mainly flow without significant symptoms, and only in some cases they show a slight aching pain and unpleasant sensations during movements.

Hygroma on the hand of a child

The pathogenesis of the development of this tumorous neoplasm in children has not been sufficiently studied. There is also no clinically and pathogenetically justified classification. In general, the etiology and provoking factors of hygroma development in childhood do not differ much from those in adult patients. However, there are also minor features.

Hygroma on the hand of a child may appear as a consequence of traumatic hematoma. In this case, the liquid inside the hematoma (residual blood cells) acquires a capsule and is separated from the rest of the tissues.

Hygroma is more common on the wrist and occurs as a result of traumatic effects on the radius, or with improper and unskilled treatment of such injuries. Especially often children's hygromas are provoked by inadequate prescription of physiotherapeutic procedures and excessive heating with hematomas supposedly to improve their resorption.

The tissues of the child's body are very tender and vulnerable, so a significant increase in the tumor can put pressure on small blood vessels and nerve endings, causing trophic disorders, pain and decreased mobility of the joint.

Diagnosis of hygroma on hand

Diagnosis of the hygroma on the arm is carried out, as a rule, according to the results of a visual examination using the palpatory method. Basically, for the diagnosis of hygroma this is quite enough. In some situations, to exclude inflammatory and infectious diseases of the joints, you can assign an X-ray, and in difficult cases, ultrasound diagnosis, computed tomography or puncture examination of the contents of the tumor-like formation, and then send it to a biochemical study.

The ultrasound method provides an opportunity to characterize the structure of the hygroma, its filling, the presence of blood vessels, etc. Magnetic resonance imaging shows the same results, only in much more detail and more specifically.

An important point is the distinctive diagnosis of hygroma from other variants of tumors and cysts (lipomas, athers, epithelium, etc.). It is necessary to assess not only the size of education, but also a number of other characteristics.

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Treatment of hygroma on hand

About half of all occurrences of gigrom may disappear on their own with a decrease in the load on the wrist and wrist. However, many variants of formations still require a certain therapeutic effect.

Treatment of hygroma on the arm can be carried out in different ways depending on the situation. Let's consider in detail each of the options.

Crushing the hygroma

This method is considered old and not quite right: the tumor was squeezed with fingers or pressed hard by a flat object, as a result of which the synovial fluid was forcefully pushed into the articular cavity or into surrounding tissues. The consequences of this method can be different. The most common is a relapse of the disease, but also inflammatory processes, and the attachment of a purulent infection can also develop.

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Puncturing the hygroma

This method is applicable to formations up to 1 centimeter in diameter. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia: the synovial fluid from the hygroma is drained with a syringe, and instead of it a glucocorticoid agent is injected, which allows the walls of the capsule to fuse together without causing relapses. After a puncture, you must wear a tight bandage for a month or more, according to the indications.

Physiotherapy with gigrom on hand

Provide for the use of electrophoresis, ultraviolet radiation, warming procedures and applications.

Surgical and laser treatment of hygroma on hand

Operative intervention is the most effective way to get rid of the hygroma. Before the operation, local or conductive anesthesia is performed. A small incision reveals a tumor. By stretching nearby tissues, with a scalpel or laser beam, the walls of the saccular formation are thoroughly excised, and the place of free fluid outlet is sutured. The duration of such an operation is about 30-40 minutes, depending on the complexity of the process, the outer seams are removed after 2 weeks.

Treatment of hygroma on the arm with alternative means

Alternative medicine offers a large number of different recipes for getting rid of synovial formations. If you trust unconventional methods, you can try some of them.

Alcohol compresses: compresses use alcohol or alcohol-containing liquid, apply to the formation and wrap with cellophane.

Fresh cabbage leaves: pass through the meat grinder, squeeze out the liquid and soak a piece of gauze in it; apply as a compress.

Use of a tea fungus: used as lotions.

Hay: take the usual hay, brew it and carefully steamed the place with the formation, not less than half an hour; After the procedure, the skin area is smeared with honey.

Use of kerosene: treat the area above the hygroma with vegetable oil and apply a kerosene compress; keep about 10-20 minutes up to four times a day, avoiding the burn of external skin.

Aloe with honey: the crushed aloe leaf is mixed with honey and flour, forming a cake, which is then applied to the gigrom and turns into a film; A similar cake can be made from damp blue or green clay.

Which method to follow, of course, you decide, but it is better to consult a more experienced specialist.

Prevention of hygroma on hand

In the presence of a hereditary predisposition to the development of hygromes, it is rather difficult to protect yourself from its appearance. Perhaps in this situation some general recommendations will help:

• It is recommended to avoid an increased repeated load on the wrist and hand, and also to protect the zone of increased risk from accidental trauma;
• If it is impossible to avoid the force load, use elastic bandages, tightly fixing the area of the joints;
• with the development of such diseases as acute and chronic bursitis or tendovaginitis, and also if you suspect a hygroma in a timely manner, contact your doctor without starting the process.

Preventative measures are also important to prevent recurrence of the disease.

If the patient already had a hygroma, the chosen method of its treatment is of great importance. For example, the greatest probability of relapse is observed when using the method of crushing or alternative means, whereas the most radical way to get rid of such formations is surgical.

An important role in the formation of gigram is food and drinking, so drink more clean water, eat a full meal and try to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Forecast of hygroma on hand

The prognosis of the hygroma on the arm is very favorable. Such a benign formation is insignificantly degenerated into a malignant tumor. Inflammation of the hygroma also rarely occurs, although it has the property of slowly but steadily increasing.

This tumor-like formation reacts quite well to treatment: a surgical operation often relieves relapses for good. An exception is the poorly performed excision of tissues, in such cases relapse is almost inevitable.

The correct diagnosis of the hygroma is extremely important, although it is difficult to confuse it with other types of tumors of the upper limbs.

In general, if this education does not cause you inconvenience, does not limit the motor functions and does not spoil the appearance of the hand, then it is quite possible to reconcile with it. In any case, try not to engage in self-medication, follow the advice of a specialist, and alternative methods can be successfully combined with the appointment of a doctor - and then the effect of treatment will only increase.

If the hygroma on the arm is clearly increased, then it is not necessary to delay with the operation, since a later visit to the doctor can significantly complicate and complicate further treatment.

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