Open resection versus arthroscopic resection for wrist ganglion cysts: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to review the postoperative outcomes of surgical treatment options for wrist ganglion cysts and perform a meta-analysis comparing the 2 most common techniques: open and arthroscopic resection. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for articles that compared the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent arthroscopic or open resection of the wrist ganglion. After screening, we identified two randomized controlled trials and four retrospective comparative studies. Recurrence rates, complications, functional scores, pain, operative time, and postoperative satisfaction were analyzed. A total of 6 studies met inclusion criteria for data extraction and qualitative synthesis. The two groups had no significant differences in the recurrence rate, postoperative pain, patient satisfaction, and clinical scores. The arthroscopic group had better results than the open group in terms of time to return to work. However, the arthroscopic group had a longer operation time than the open group.