Mucous Cyst of the Finger
Mucous cysts are painful nodules that develop at the most distal joint in the finger. They are distinguished from ganglion cysts developing at other joints by their location only. These cysts arise from the joint and may be caused by arthritis, injury, or simple “wear and tear” of the joint. In addition to being unsightly, they may cause pain and deformity of the finger nail. In some cases they may erode through the skin resulting in potential infection. While needle aspiration of the cyst may be performed, recurrence rates are high. Operative excision of the mucous cyst has a much higher success rate. Dr. Fremling has been performing mucous cyst surgery for over 20 years. In some cases, mucous cyst surgery can be performed in the office under local anesthesia to minimize cost.