Mucous Cysts

What is a mucous cyst?

Mucous cysts are small, fluid filled sacs that develop on the fingers and usually develop in people over the age of 50 but can occur at any age. Cysts usually appear at the joint nearest the fingernail and can be found on the back of the thumb or any other finger. They appear as small, sometimes painful nodules in the joint area.

Mucous cysts are usually associated with osteoarthritis and tend to be more common in women than men.

Why do mucous cysts occur?

Mucous cysts occur when the connective tissue that joins the tendons in the fingers, wears away. Hand joints are filled with fluid. Sometimes, fluid can escape through a small hole in the joint capsule. It is like a valve, so fluid can escape into the cyst, but cannot return to the joint. They are common in people who have arthritic change in the joint. Mucous cysts can appear gradually over time but can also show up quite quickly as a visible bump under the skin. If the cyst develops very close to the nail bed, it can cause a groove in the nail.

Symptoms of mucous cysts

Lump on one side of the end joint
May get bigger or smaller over time
The cyst may discharge yellow sticky fluid
Deformed nail, as the cyst presses on the nail bed

Mucous cysts are not serious, but if they are repeatedly knocked, they can become irritated and painful. A cyst may swell up and burst on its own, and settle for a while, but may return a few months later.

Treatment

Needle aspiration can be used to treat mucous cysts by simply aspirating the fluid from the cyst, however around 50% of cysts return following the treatment, and carries a risk of infection to the affected area.

Surgery

With problematic and re-occurring mucous cysts, surgical excision is considered an effective method for removal. Surgery involves removing the cyst from the connection to the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint. The cyst, stalk and any bone spurs on the DIP joint are removed. However, this does not always cure the pain as pain may be caused by any underlying osteoarthritis.

The procedure can be performed as a day case which means you will be able to have surgery and go home on the same day. Your surgeon will remove the mucous cyst using local anaesthetic to numb the affected area. After surgery, a dressing will be applied which must be kept on for 3 days. You must keep your dressing dry and once it has been removed you can resume normal activities and drive again, providing pain levels are reduced.

Recovery

Following your procedure, the anaesthetic will wear off after a few hours and you may start to feel some pain. The pain will be worse in the first few days after your operation but will start subsiding within a week. Over the counter painkillers such as paracetamol will help to manage any discomfort.

Your hand may be swollen, keeping it raised above your heart for the first two days after your surgery, will help reduce swelling and pain. To do this, you can wear a sling, or sit with pillows so that your arm is at shoulder level.

It is important to move your hand and fingers regularly after the operation even if they feel stiff. Before you leave the hospital, you will be given an appointment for when you will have your stitches removed. This is usually 10-14 days post-surgery. You will return to the outpatient department in the hospital and a nurse will remove your stitches for you.

Your scar may feel tender to touch and an unperfumed moisturiser can help with this. Aching pain in your finger is not uncommon and swelling can take a couple of months to subside.

As with all surgery, there is a risk of post-operative complications. If you experience any of the following, please contact your surgeon or GP for advice:

Your fingers become more swollen, painful, and stiffer than you expect
There is discharge, wetness, or an unpleasant smell from underneath your dressing

You should be able to resume normal activities 6 weeks after your operation.

Whatever your hand or wrist condition is, we can help.

Mr Randeep Mohil provides clinics across Lancashire and Cheshire.

Please call us on 01625 466158 or email info@northwesthandsurgeon.co.uk

Get in touch

Lancashire Clinics

The Beardwood Hospital, Blackburn
Clinic days: Monday evenings (alternate) and Thursday mornings
Website: The Beardwood Hospital
Ramsay Fulwood Hospital, Preston
Clinic days: Monday and Tuesday evenings (alternate)
Website: Ramsay Fulwood Hall

Ramsay Euxton Hall Hospital, Chorley Clinic days: Tuesday evenings (alternate) Website:Ramsay Euxton Hall

Cheshire Clinic, Northwich Clinic days: Friday morning (alternate) Website: The Cheshire Clinic

Call

Email

Mucous Cysts

What is a mucous cyst?

Why do mucous cysts occur?

Treatment

Surgery

Recovery

Whatever your hand or wrist condition is, we can help.

Get in touch