Comparative study between three methods of aspiration alone, aspiration plus steroid injection and aspiration plus ethanol injection for treatment of dorsal wrist ganglions

Objective: To compare the effect of aspiration alone, aspiration plus methyl prednisone injection and aspiration plus ethanol injection into the dorsal wrist ganglions. Methodology: This prospective study was performed from March 2009 to May 2010 and 66 Patients with dorsal wrist ganglions were treated in three groups: A- aspiration alone in 24 patients, B-aspiration plus methylprednisolone injection into the cyst in 20 patients. C- Aspiration plus ethanol injection, then re aspiration of the ethanol from the cyst after 3-5 minutes, in 22 patients. Elastic compression bandage was applied in all patients and recommended for 3 weeks. Follow up was done at 1. 3. 6 and 12 months. Results: The success rate in group A was seen in 9 patients (37.5%), in group B in 11(55.%) and in group C in 14 (63.5%) patients. The most frequent side effect was pain during ethanol injection which relived by cyst re aspiration. Conclusion: Injection of ethanol into the dorsal wrist ganglion was associated with higher success rate compared to aspiration and methyl prednisolone injection. Further studies with larger sample size should be performed in particular to assess the effect of ethanol injection in this disease.