The etiology, epidemiology, and treatment outcomes of ganglions in children have not
been studied in depth. Most research has mainly focused on adults with this condition,
with some research suggesting differing epidemiology and outcomes in the pediatric
population. This review focuses on the existing literature on pediatric ganglions
of the hand and wrist, highlighting 17 studies focused on prevalence and treatment
outcomes. Within the pediatric population, epidemiology and outcomes differ depending
on patient age. In children aged <10 years, cysts present on the volar aspect of the
wrist and are generally amenable to observation, with spontaneous regression. For
patients aged >10 years, ganglions resemble those in the adult population and present
on the dorsal aspect of the wrist. Open surgical excision demonstrates a relatively
low recurrence rate with minimal complications and is currently recommended for treatment.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 22, 2022
Accepted:
December 26,
2021
Received:
August 8,
2021
Footnotes
Dr Wolf received salary from The Journal of Hand Surgery through December 2020. No benefit in any form has been received or will be received by the other author related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
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© 2022 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.
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