Intratendinous ganglia of the hand.

Abstract

We report a series of seven patients with 10 intratendinous ganglia that were treated operatively. One ganglion was in the abductor pollicis longus tendon. The rest were in tendons of the fourth extensor compartment, and all of them were associated with tenosynovitis. The average age of the patients at operation was 55 years. One patient was treated by resection of the tendon with tendon transfer. The other patients were treated by excision of the ganglion with repair of the tendon or tenosynovectomy. The mean length of postoperative follow-up time was 6 years. One patient experienced a recurrence. Three of the six patients with preoperative dorsal tenosynovitis had tenosynovitis postoperatively. We speculate that the ganglia arose secondary to tenosynovitis. When an intratendinous ganglion is diagnosed, tenosynovectomy is recommended, with resection of the intratendinous ganglion and longitudinal tendon repair when needed.