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Joint cyst
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The joint cyst refers to acquired pathologies that result from joint trauma, the development of inflammatory processes or degenerative-dystrophic diseases.
The joint cyst is a spherical formation, in the cavity of which liquid contents are present. Cysts of joints refer to benign neoplasms, they are well probed, slightly mobile and not soldered with nearby tissues.
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The most common cyst is formed in the ankle, knee and hip joints. It can also affect the elbow, shoulder, wrist joints and fingers.
According to statistics, cysts of the knee joint more often affect females than males, approximately twice. The hip joints are considered to be the most vulnerable, since they receive the greatest load during motor activity.
Such a disease, as a joint cyst, can occur without the appearance of any symptoms or is accompanied by numbness of surrounding tissues, pain in the affected area, mainly when the joint moves.
The dimensions of such a neoplasm as the cyst of the joint can reach in the diameter of ten centimeters. However, cysts can be of small size and do not progress for a long time. With rapid growth, as a rule, surgical intervention is required.
To diagnose the joint cyst, ultrasound, x-ray, and magnetic resonance imaging methods are used. To analyze the contents of the cyst, it is punctured - pumping with a special needle of intracavitary fluid.
Treatment of the joint cyst depends on the size of the neoplasm and the degree of manifestation of the accompanying symptoms. To eliminate cysts, methods such as puncturing the cyst (pumping out its liquid contents), arthroscopic or surgical removal are used.
Ankle cyst
The cyst of the ankle is relatively infrequent and, as a rule, is a hygroma, initially small in size, filled with fluid and formed from a shell of tendons and joints. The growth of such a cyst is slow, but the neoplasm can reach in the sizes of five to ten centimeters.
The load on the affected area is painful. When in rest, painful sensations do not usually appear, but they can appear if the cyst reaches a large size.
In cases of traumatization of the cyst of the ankle joint, it may begin to increase, which will eventually lead to compression of the surrounding vessels and nerve endings. In such a situation, the inflammatory process develops and the pain sensations are significantly strengthened. To prevent injury to the ankle cyst and avoid other undesirable consequences, if any new growth is detected in this area, do not delay the visit to the doctor.
Causes
The formation of the ankle cyst can be caused by inflammatory processes occurring in the tendons or joint bag, such as, for example, bursitis or tendovaginitis, which in turn can have an asymptomatic course. Causes of the ankle cyst may consist of trauma or frequent congestion of the affected joint.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the cyst of the ankle joint can be expressed in the occurrence of pain and discomfort sensations in this area, as well as in the appearance of globular formation of small sizes. Subsequently, however, its magnitude can reach quite impressive proportions, provoking strong enough pain sensations and development of the inflammatory process in nearby tissues.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of the cyst of the ankle joint is carried out using such methods of examination as magnetic resonance imaging and X-ray. To study the contents of the cyst, it is punctured. For this, a small amount of fluid contained inside the cyst is pumped out with a syringe.
Treatment
Treatment of an ankle cyst may be conservative or surgical. With conservative therapy, the cyst is punctured - emptying its cavity by pumping out the liquid contents. After the puncture, the necessary medications are introduced into the cleared cavity of the cyst, the affected area is tightly bandaged. An orthopedic fixator is placed on the foot and left for seven or eight days. With conservative therapy, physiotherapy and paraffin applications can also be prescribed. It should be noted that when carrying out such treatment, cases of recurrence of the disease are not uncommon.
When surgical intervention is performed excision of the cyst. The probability of relapse is not high.
Laser therapy of the ankle cyst allows eliminating the tumor by heating it, without affecting the nearby tissues.
The main factors that testify to the need to remove the cyst are a swift increase in the tumor in size, the development of inflammatory processes, accompanied by swelling and severe pain, and an obvious external defect in the affected area.
[7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13]
Cyst on the joint of the finger
The cyst on the finger joint (ganglion) is a tumor-like growth that contains a stony substance inside. According to statistics, ganglia account for about half of all cases of tumors in the brush region. In most cases, they occur in females at a young age. Such formations can not cause pain, have rounded shapes and different sizes, are more often located on the outside of the palm of your hand.
Causes
Causes of the cyst on the finger joint may consist in traumatizing this area, in constant loads on the finger joints, may also be associated with a genetic predisposition.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the cyst on the joint of the finger include the appearance in the region of the fingers of a round, compacted formation measuring half to one centimeter in size. Painful sensations, as a rule, appear at movement of fingers, however can be expressed and in a status of rest.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of the cyst on the joint of the finger is performed on the basis of examination of the affected area and palpation, as well as by X-ray examination.
Treatment
Treatment of the cyst at the finger joint can be performed in conservative ways or by surgical intervention. When pumping out the contents of a cyst, cases of its recurrence are not uncommon. When performing a surgical procedure, the cyst is completely excised.
[14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21]
Wrist joint cyst
The wrist joint cyst is a benign tumor with a fluid inside (hygroma). The cyst of tendon sheaths is the most common neoplasm in the hand area. In most cases, the hygroma is a consequence of the development of bursitis or tendovaginitis.
Causes
Cysts of the wrist joint include degenerative-dystrophic joint diseases, diseases of the synovial cavity of a chronic nature, frequent physical stress on the area of the wrist joint, as well as its traumatization.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the wrist joint cyst include the appearance of a compacted formation of small sizes in this area, which at the initial stage may not be accompanied by painful sensations. However, in the future, as the hygroma develops and grows, pain can occur, both during joint motion and at rest. In the affected area there is a decrease in sensitivity, the appearance of the skin changes (there is swelling or a slight swelling).
Sometimes there is an evacuation of the cyst, in which its contents flow into the joint cavity or beyond it. Cyst dissection can occur arbitrarily or after getting injured. If the liquid remains inside the joint, it is possible later to develop the cyst. When the neoplasm is opened with the liquid leaking outwards, the skin is damaged, which is the risk of infection.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of the wrist joint is performed by examining the affected joint, palpation of the neoplasm, and using the methods of X-ray examination.
Treatment
Treatment of the wrist cyst is prescribed on the basis of factors such as tumor progression, its size, and also taking into account the causes of the neoplasm and the general condition of the patient.
At small sizes of the hygroma, conservative treatment methods such as puncturing the cyst and pumping out its contents can be applied. Then the patient is prescribed antibacterial drugs, glucocorticoids and physiotherapy procedures. This method of treatment does not give an absolute guarantee that the cyst does not form again.
Complete removal of the wrist cyst is performed surgically, after which a special bandage is applied to the area of the wrist. For some time after surgical intervention, any stresses on the area of the wrist joint are excluded.
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