Mucous Cyst

A mucous cyst is a type of liquid-filled structure that most commonly occurs on the last joint of the fingers, the distal interphalangeal joint. It is a type of ganglion and is due to arthritis in the joint of the fingertip. The symptoms of this are an obvious lump on the finger that may cause discomfort upon impact. It originates from the level of the finger bones and not just under the skin as it would first appear, so the surgery requires to go in deep to the bone.

The simplest procedure for this condition involves making incisions in the skin. The cyst is removed along with any underlying bony lumps and the skin is sutured. Do not drive to the hospital yourself. You will need a responsible adult to pick you up after your surgery.

You will find that there is a large bandage on your finger. It is important to keep the operated hand elevated to avoid swelling. The bandage is reduced to a lighter one a few days later to allow you to move the finger more easily. After 10-14 days, the stitches are removed and you will be asked to start massaging the scar with a moisturiser.

You may start driving after the stitches are out, or early if you feel safe to do so. You can also consider going back to work when pain subsides although people doing heavy manual jobs may need more time off.

Generally, these procedures are considered to be effective and low risk. However some people may have problems. The commonest of these is discomfort around the finger, which may last for a couple of months after surgery. Other problems are swelling and stiffness of the hand which, if severe and accompanied by pain, is called “reflex sympathetic dystrophy.” It is rare. Infection is relatively common and if there are signs of infection, then antibiotics need to be taken. Occasionally the cyst returns after a period of time. There will be a visible scar from surgery but this will fade over the course of a year.