Treatment of Wrist Ganglion Using Nd: YAG Laser

Kim,  Eugene; Park,  Se Jin; Yoon,  Ji Woong; Kim,  Won Serk; Yoon,  Jun O; Park,  Shin suk

Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand 2011;16(1):29-34.
Published online March 1, 2011.

Eugene Kim, Se Jin Park, Ji Woong Yoon, Won Serk Kim, Jun O Yoon, Shin suk Park

¹Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yrrtyr@naver.com
²Department of Dermatology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
³Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
⁴Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Purpose
We evaluated the results of treatment for a ganglion with catheterized Nd: YAG laser assisted arthrotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with a ganglion underwent laser assisted arthrotomyt. The first procedure was the puncturing and aspiration of the ganglion using an 18 G needle under local anesthesia. The joint capsule and ligament near the origin of the ganglion were cauterized using a catheterized laser instrument (ACCUSCULPT(R), Lutronic Inc.). The patients was observed clinically and evaluated by ultrasonography.

Results
The average period of follow-up was 12.3 months. Among the 25 patients presented during follow-up period, 22 patients (88%) had no recurrence. Two patients had partial recurrence and 1 patient had complete recurrence.

Conclusion
Catheterized Nd: YAG laser assisted arthrotomy is considered to be an effective non-invasive method with a relatively low recurrence rate for the treatment of wrist ganglion.