Etiology and Treatment of the So-Called Mucous Cyst of the Finger

Abstract

A series of thirty-six so-called mucous cysts of the finger were reviewed. A new form of surgical treatment for this lesion is presented which includes excision of the cyst, synovectomy, and débridement of osteophytes of the distal interphalangeal joint. Closure of the skin defect was accomplished by a rotational flap created by the initial incision. There were no recurrences when this technique was employed. In all cases a definite pedicle was found connecting the cyst to the distal interphalangeal joint. This finding along with the histological appearance seems to indicate that the lesion is analogous to a ganglion.