RECURRENT DORSAL WRIST GANGLION: AETIOLOGY AND TREATMENT

Seven patients with symptomatic recurrent dorsal wrist ganglia were treated by excision of the origin of the ganglion from the scapholunate ligament combined with dorsal capsulorrhaphy. All patients presented with radial wrist pain associated with recurrent dorsal wrist ganglia. Examination revealed localised tenderness over the scapholunate joint with clinical signs of scaphoid instability in every case. Postoperatively, all patients reported pain relief and improved wrist function. There have been no recurrences, with an average follow-up of 14 months (range 12–22 months). Dorsal capsulorrhaphy appears to be a successful method of relieving symptoms, improving wrist function and preventing ganglion recurrence.