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Incidence of Surgery for Pediatric Wrist Ganglion Cysts
Albert L Rancu1, Alexander J Kammien1, Beatrice M Katsnelson1
1Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Insights
Pediatric wrist ganglion cysts are common, but management data is limited. This study found that while diagnoses increase with age, surgery rates rise linearly, with older females more likely to undergo procedures.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Surgery
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Ganglion cysts of the wrist are frequently diagnosed in children.
- Limited data exists regarding the management of pediatric wrist ganglion cysts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a nationwide analysis of the incidence and treatment of pediatric wrist ganglion cysts.
- To analyze trends in diagnosis and surgical management by age.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the PearlDiver database to identify 33,884 pediatric patients with wrist ganglion cysts.
- Excluded patients over 18, with different diagnoses, or insufficient follow-up (2 years).
- Analyzed imaging use (ultrasound, MRI) and treatments (bracing, aspiration/injection, surgery), focusing on factors associated with surgical intervention.
Main Results:
- Diagnosis incidence increased exponentially with age.
- Surgical management percentage increased linearly with age.
- Older patients, particularly females, were more likely to undergo surgery and had higher rates of prior imaging and nonoperative management.
Conclusions:
- This nationwide analysis provides crucial data on pediatric wrist ganglion cyst management.
- Findings are vital for informing longitudinal patient counseling and surgical planning in pediatric cases.
Background:
While diagnosis of ganglion cysts of the wrist in the pediatric population is common, data on management are limited. This study describes a nationwide analysis of the incidence and treatment of pediatric ganglion cysts.
Methods:
Patients who were diagnosed with a wrist ganglion cyst were identified from the PearlDiver database. Exclusion criteria included age over 18 years, incidence of different cyst diagnosis codes, fewer than 6 months of records prior to first diagnosis, and fewer than 2 years of follow-up. The use of imaging and common treatments for ganglion cysts including bracing, aspiration/injection, and surgery were noted. Patients were followed for 2 years, and factors associated with undergoing surgery were analyzed. Trends in the diagnosis and surgical management of ganglion cysts by age were observed.
Results:
A total of 33 884 patients with a ganglion cyst on the wrist were identified. Diagnoses increased exponentially with age, while the percentage of patients who underwent surgery increased linearly with age. Those who underwent surgery tended to be older and were more likely to be female. These patients were also more likely to have undergone ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging. There was a statistically significant difference in prior use of nonoperative management between patients that did and did not undergo surgery.
Conclusion:
This study offers a nationwide analysis of pediatric ganglion cysts. These findings are important to consider during longitudinal patient counseling and surgical planning.
