The mucoid cyst of the finger is a swelling of the finger, which usually appears at the tip, just above the nail. This problem can progress very quickly and degenerate.
Often, this cyst is caused by osteoarthritis of the finger, which affects the last joint of your finger. This problem can cause compression of your nail, and it is because of this that the problem can develop into an infection. The cyst itself is not a very serious problem, but again, if it develops into an infection, you need to act very quickly.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a mucoid cyst of the finger requires a clinical examination. The health care provider observes the swelling, as well as the deformity of the nail, to determine if there is compression of the nail that could lead to infection.
It is also possible to perform an X-ray in addition, in order to analyze the evolution of the osteoarthritis at the root of the problem.
Treatment
There are several options for treating the cyst. Indeed, if the cyst does not swell, does not cause deformation, and does not cause pain, it is not necessarily useful to implement a treatment. But if the cyst swells, if it is painful, or if it causes a deformation of your nail, then surgery is necessary.
The surgical procedure is done on an outpatient basis and with local anesthesia. Then, an incision is made to remove the cyst in its entirety. It is also possible to file the bones, in order to reduce the friction, and thus slow down the evolution of the arthrosis. And it is also possible to replace the skin that is too thin at the level of the cyst, to replace it with thicker skin, taken from the side of the finger.
Following the operation, the dressing must be changed every two days for two weeks.
As for complications following the operation, you should know that an infection is always possible, but it is very rare. There is also a 5 to 10% risk of recurrence. And if there is a problem, it may take longer to heal, and a second operation may be necessary to fix the problem.
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