Ganglions of the hand and wrist: Retrospective statistical analysis of 520 cases.

BACKGROUND: Ganglions constitute the most common tumor type of the hand and wrist region. They have a non-neoplastic character and affect patients of all ages.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this work was to analyze the epidemiological data of a representative group of patients diagnosed with ganglions of the hand and wrist.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five-hundred-and-twenty patients operated on for ganglions of the hand and wrist between the years 2000 and 2014 were included in the study. For the statistical analysis, STATISTICA v. 10 was used. Categorical data was analyzed using the χ2. The distribution of two and more independent samples was compared through the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test followed by pairwise comparisons for significant test statistics, respectively.

RESULTS: In the studied group of patients, ganglions affected females more often than males, with a 2.8 : 1 ratio. No statistically significant differences in age distribution between women and men (median age 38 vs. 40 years) were found. Ganglions affected both sides of the body with comparable equality. Wrist ganglions predominated (76%). The patients diagnosed with hand ganglions were statistically significantly older (p < 0.001), and the right hand was affected more often (p = 0.003). A statistically significant difference in age distribution between the patients with DWG (dorsal wrist ganglions) and VRG (volar retinacular ganglions) was observed (p < 0.001). DWG affected the left side (p = 0.003) and VRG the right side (p = 0.005) of the body more often.

CONCLUSIONS: Statistical analysis of our patients confirmed much of the previously published data. Although the diagnosis and treatment of ganglions of the hand and wrist are relatively uncomplicated, the pathophysiology of their formation is still waiting to be thoroughly explained.