Ganglions of the foot and ankle - A retrospective analysis of 63 procedures

A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate treatment of foot and ankle ganglion cysts seen at the Foot and Ankle Institute at the Pennsylvania Co llege of Pediatric Medicine (now Temple University School of Pediatric Medi cine). From 1990 to 1997, 63 patients (63 ganglion cysts) were treated by c onservative or surgical means. Statistical analysis of data collected showe d a significant relationship between type of treatment received and recurre nce of the cyst. Surgical intervention resulted in significantly less recur rence (11%) than conservative treatment (63%). Regardless of whether treatm ent was conservative or surgical, there was no significant relationship bet ween location of the cyst and recurrence. The type of conservative treatmen t was not significantly related to recurrence of the cyst. The surgical rec urrence rate reported here is comparable to that reported in other studies of foot and ankle ganglion cysts. The number of foot and ankle ganglion cys ts evaluated in this study is the largest in the literature.