How to Get Rid of Mucous Cyst on Finger
What is a mucus cyst?
A mucous cyst is a fluid-filled sack associated with arthritis of the DIP joint (the joint closest to the fingertip). The joint fluid acts to both lubricate the joint as well as to bring nutrition to the cartilage. The cyst becomes filled with a substance that is similar in consistency to jelly or honey, that is, it is very thick (the technical term is "viscous"). The sack is an outpouching of joint capsule, which is the sleeve of tissue that encloses a joint, keeping in the joint fluid. It can often deform the fingernail or spontaneously drain fluid.
Why does mucus cyst occur?
Mucous cysts are typically found in patients with OA. Doctors do not know why mucous cysts develop. The joint lining forms a little pouch with a one way valve which pushes the fluid into the pouch and forms the cyst.
Symptoms
A mucous cyst is typically visible just under the skin on the finger. It may be painful. You may notice a groove in the fingernail just above the cyst. The groove is a result of pressure from the cyst on the nailbed. The skin over the cyst may have thinned. There may be deformity in the finger, multiple joints may be affected at the same time. Both hands may be affected.
The joint itself may be painful as well as pain in other joints in the body.
Investigations:
You will need an X-ray on the finger to see the extent of OA, including bone spurs, joint space narrowing any bone loss.
Treatment
A mucous cyst may be treated when they grow large enough to be ugle and obtrusive, or when they compress the cells which create the finger nail (called the "germinal matrix"), causing a nail deformity. Mucous cysts can a problem due recurrent episodes of draining. This can be a problem if the joint gets infected when normal skin bacteria enter the joint by climbing up the draining fluid. However, there is no absolute need to treat a mucous cyst, in the sense that displaced fractures need to be fixed. This is a case where the decision for treatment is more up to the patient, how big the cyst is, how much it gets in the way, is unsightly, recurrently drains, etc.
Nonsurgical Treatment
Observation is often sufficient treatment for mucous cysts. Mucous cysts are not typically harmful and usually do not grow worse without treatment.However, sometimes a mucous cyst will rupture. When this happens, antibiotics may be applied directly to the site and the finger is wrapped in a dressing. Oral antibiotics may be also prescribed.
Aspiration of cyst may be done, but risks introduction of infection. Most often the cyst recurs and hence I do not recommend it routinely.
Surgery
Surgery is recommended
- Significant pain with or without deformity
- Cyst and skin appear ready to rupture or ruptured multiple times
- Unsightly
The options for surgery vary from simple excision to excision of excess bone and fusion. This will be discussed with you at the consultation.
If recommended then surgery is most commonly carried out under local anaesthesia to numb the finger, but can be done under general anaesthesia.
How to Get Rid of Mucous Cyst on Finger
Source: https://www.kentorthopaedicpractice.co.uk/mucus-cyst/