Voilà pourquoi certaines personnes ont cette bosse sur leur poignet

That's why some people have this lump on their wrist

From time to time, our bodies may show signs that many of us prefer to take lightly so as not to worry too much. This is the case for certain protrusions that may appear on the skin, either generally or in specific areas of the body. Today, we will be interested in this bump that tends to appear on the wrist.

What is a synovial cyst?

A ganglion, hygroma or synovial cyst is a kind of fluid-filled pouch that appears in joints and tendons. What you need to know is that this liquid does not come out of nowhere because it is the one that the body secretes in small quantities in order to lubricate our joints and tendons. But it can happen, as a result of unusual movements that requires them more than the norm, that the body tries to compensate for this by producing more synovial fluid and it is precisely this excess of lubricating liquid that causes the formation of a ball called a "synovial cyst".

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The different places where these cysts can form

These cysts can appear at the level of a joint, in this case we are talking about an arthro-synovial cyst. The latter forms quite frequently on the top of the wrist or in the inner part of the wrist. Some may sometimes appear on the joints of the fingers, they are then mucoid cysts sometimes able to cause deformities in the nails.

 Voilà pourquoi certaines personnes ont cette bosse sur leur poignet

They can also form on the trajectory of a tendon, in this case a teno-synovial cyst.

It should be noted that the different types of cysts mentioned above commonly appear in different categories of the population, regardless of age or gender. 30 to 40% of French have already dealt with these small bumps.

 Voilà pourquoi certaines personnes ont cette bosse sur leur poignet

What are they due to? And what symptoms do they have?

In a majority of cases, synovial cysts are benign and idiopathic, which means they occur for no particular reason. However, some may form as a result of a wrist sprain or some trauma related to a joint or ligament, in this case it is a post-traumatic cyst. However, these are more painful than the previous ones, so a medical follow-up including an ultrasound, an X-ray or an MRI is necessary to identify the cause and prevent such a thing from happening again.

The only real symptom that a synovial cyst presents is the appearance of this ball and its only real impact on the body remains this discomfort caused, although it varies depending on the type of cyst and where it may have developed. Knowing that usually, the pain of opportunity comes in waves and disappears on its own.

How to treat such a condition?

As a general rule, a cyst that appears should be monitored first and foremost, even if it does not require actual treatment. After the growth spurt, the cyst may stabilize before regressing and disappearing on its own after 6 months. According to Dr. Frédérique Mazodier, an orthopedic surgeon, "30 to 40% of wrist cysts regress spontaneously after the first 4 months after their appearance."

It is therefore advisable, if the pain or discomfort caused by the cyst is not important, to wait and see how this bump evolves over time. Alternatively, you can apply alcohol-soaked gas compresses to the bump in case of pain while waiting to see a doctor.

Doctors, on the other hand, recommend wearing a splint to rest the wrist and to solicit it as little as possible.

When it comes to a traumatic cyst or particularly disabling pain, a surgical ablation, also known as "exeresis," is an appropriate solution. Surgical procedures of this type are performed in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia. The patient keeps a bandage and does not solicit the joint concerned for a fortnight. Knowing that throughout the recovery period, it is strongly recommended to avoid any carrying of heavy loads as well as any gesture requiring some force. Normal activity in the affected area can then resume fully 4 to 5 weeks later.

Whether they disappear on their own or undergo surgery, synovial cysts are prone to recurrence in 10% of cases. Recidivism is treated in the same way as the very first time. But keep in mind that this is a very common condition and you don't have to worry or panic, just keep an eye on it to avoid getting embarrassed afterwards.