Ganglia of the Foot and Ankle

This report documents the treatment of 33 foot and ankle ganglia. The average patient age was 39 years (versus 25 years for patients with ganglia about the wrist joint). Twenty-one ganglia were treated operatively and nine recurred. Three patients suffered cutaneous nerve injury. The other 12 ganglia were treated by aspiration and steroid injection. There were four recurrences, one of which was cured by a second injection. Two of the four recurrences were small and asymptomatic and required no treatment. There were no complications with aspiration and injection. In view of the high recurrence rates and inconvenience of ganglionectomy in the foot, aspiration and steroid injection is a more safe, simple, and effective treatment. We feel that surgery should generally be reserved for failures of nonoperative treatment.