A reliable surgical treatment for digital mucous cysts

Abstract

There is no clear consensus about the best operative technique for the treatment of digital mucous cysts. We carried out a retrospective review of all patients who underwent excision of a digital mucous cyst using a local advancement skin flap over a 10-year period. A total of 69 patients were included and were reviewed at an average of 38 months (minimum 6 months) post-operatively. No patients were lost to follow-up. There was only one case of cyst recurrence. Of these 67 patients were happy with the scar and 63 patients said they would have the procedure again; 36 patients had a pre-operative nail deformity and 21 reported that the deformity grew out after the procedure.