Treatment of Wrist Dorsal Synovial Cyst with Percutaneous Sclerotherapy Using Hypertonic Saline Solution

Objective  To evaluate the efficacy of hypertonic saline infiltration as a sclerosing agent in the dorsal synovial cyst of the wrist. Method  Patients of both genders, aged 18 years or older, with clinical and ultrasound diagnosis of synovial cyst, and without any previous treatment were selected. Case series in which 50 patients underwent aspiration of the contents of the cyst and infiltration of the hypertonic saline solution (2 ml sodium chloride solution 20% and 1 ml of lidocaine 2%). The patients were followed up for 24 weeks, when the parameters pain, strength, range of motion, function (quickDASH and Brief Michigan question), recurrence, and complications were evaluated. Results  A total of 46 patients were evaluated for 24 weeks, 18 (39.1%) cysts evolved to resolution, and 28 (60.9%) presented recurrence. There was no statistically significant difference in the effect force or in the range of motion. There was no clinically significant difference in the scores of the questionnaires. The most frequent complications were pain and edema. Conclusion  Infiltration with hypertonic saline solution for the treatment of dorsal synovial cyst of the wrist showed a recurrence rate of 60.9%.