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Quiste mucoso

Mucous cysts – common bumps near finger joints, often linked to arthritis, and treatment options.

Updated Sep 2026
Una ilustración dibujada a mano de un pequeño quiste en la articulación distal del dedo, cerca de la uña.
Un quiste mucoso en el pulgar: se trata de un pequeño bulto lleno de líquido que se forma en la articulación desgastada situada en la punta del dedo o del pulgar. Kieran Hirpara 4.0

Esta página se tradujo automáticamente y todavía no la ha revisado un médico. La versión en inglés es la versión oficial.

Qué está sintiendo

Un quiste mucoso se manifiesta como un bulto pequeño y firme en el dedo, justo debajo de la última articulación antes de la punta del dedo. Siempre se ubica a un lado del dedo, nunca exactamente en el centro. El bulto está lleno de líquido espeso; por eso se siente firme en lugar de blando.

En esa misma articulación suele haber artritis por desgaste (el término médico es osteoartritis). De hecho, la mayoría de las personas con un quiste mucoso también padecen artritis en dicha articulación. El quiste y la artritis están relacionados: un pequeño espolón óseo en la articulación afectada irrita el revestimiento articular y hace que el líquido se desplace hacia la piel, formando el quiste.

El bulto en sí puede doler, y la articulación subyacente puede sentirse rígida o adolorida. Suele molestar más cuando aprieta o pellizca con ese dedo; por ejemplo, al girar una llave, abrir un frasco, sostener un bolígrafo o abrocharse la camisa. El dolor suele disminuir al descansar la mano. Algunas personas notan que la articulación está peor al despertar o después de un día de mucho uso de las manos.

Dado que el quiste se encuentra cerca de la uña, puede presionar el lecho ungueal y alterar el crecimiento de la uña. Sobre el bulto, la uña puede presentar surcos o crestas. La piel que cubre el quiste también puede volverse delgada y brillante.

Si el bulto es doloroso, está creciendo o afecta la apariencia de la uña, normalmente es entonces cuando las personas buscan asesoramiento médico. Su cirujano podrá confirmar de qué se trata mediante un examen del dedo; una radiografía mostrará la artritis y cualquier espolón óseo en la articulación.

¿Qué está ocurriendo realmente?

La última articulación de su dedo está envuelta en una cubierta de tejido llamada cápsula articular. Esta actúa como un sello que mantiene el líquido sinovial dentro de la articulación. Cuando esa articulación desarrolla artritis por desgaste, el revestimiento de la cápsula puede debilitarse. Entonces, el líquido se filtra por esa zona débil y se acumula bajo la piel formando un bulto pequeño y firme: ese es el quiste mucoso.

Este quiste no es un crecimiento ni un tumor; se trata de una bolsa llena de un líquido espeso y gelatinoso, similar al que se encuentra en los quistes ganglionares del dorso de la muñeca. No posee revestimiento cutáneo propio; solo cuenta con una pared fibrosa suelta a su alrededor. El líquido proviene directamente de la articulación, por eso presionar el bulto no lo aplana: el líquido no tiene salida.

La artritis subyacente es el factor determinante. A medida que la articulación se desgasta, suele formarse un pequeño espolón óseo en su borde. Este espolón se ubica justo donde aparece el quiste, irritando continuamente la cápsula y favoreciendo la acumulación de líquido. Por esta razón, el quiste puede reaparecer si únicamente se extirpa el bulto y se deja el espolón intacto.

Todos los síntomas descritos anteriormente derivan de esta situación. El bulto duele porque el líquido lo distiende bajo una zona de piel tensa. La piel que lo cubre se vuelve fina y brillante debido a la presión constante del quiste desde abajo. La hendidura en la uña se produce porque el quiste, al crecer, ejerce presión sobre el lecho ungueal, alterando su formación. Finalmente, la rigidez o molestia al agarrar o pellizcar se debe a la propia articulación afectada por la artritis, no exclusivamente al quiste.

Qué podemos hacer al respecto

El Dr. Kieran Hirpara, cirujano de extremidades superiores en el Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton, comienza con las opciones menos invasivas que se adapten a su condición. Por lo general, los pacientes son derivados a nuestra clínica por su médico de cabecera; si un fisioterapeuta le ha sugerido que nos consulte, igualmente necesitará una derivación de su médico de cabecera para poder acceder al reembolso de Medicare. En su primera visita, tomamos su historia clínica, examinamos su dedo y, si es necesario, solicitamos una radiografía. La radiografía muestra la artritis y el espolón óseo en la articulación, que ya sabíamos que se encuentran detrás del quiste.

Dado que se trata de un problema de larga data, normalmente iniciamos con tratamiento no quirúrgico. Esto implica modificar la forma en que utiliza la mano, de modo que las tareas que requieren agarre o pellizco afecten menos a la articulación. La terapia ocupacional o fisioterapia busca aliviar el dolor y mantener la movilidad articular. El uso de férulas permite descansar la articulación y reducir la presión sobre el quiste. Sometemos estas medidas a una prueba razonable antes de considerar cualquier otro tratamiento.

Si el bulto sigue causándole molestias después de esto, la cirugía es el siguiente paso. El objetivo es extirpar el espolón óseo en la articulación, pues ese espolón sigue aportando líquido al quiste. Al eliminarlo, el quiste pierde su fuente de alimentación, por lo que se reduce y no vuelve a aparecer. En muchos casos, basta con retirar únicamente el espolón; el quiste puede dejarse tal cual. De este modo, la operación resulta menos extensa que si hubiera que extraer tanto el bulto como el espolón. Analizaremos juntos en qué consiste la intervención y acordaremos un plan de tratamiento.

Qué esperar

Si se deja sin tratamiento, un quiste mucoso no desaparece de la noche a la mañana. Puede mantenerse prácticamente del mismo tamaño, o puede aumentar y disminuir de tamaño a lo largo de meses. El dolor suele estar relacionado con la artritis subyacente y no con el propio quiste; por eso, los brotes de dolor articular hacen que el quiste vuelva a llamar nuestra atención. Si el quiste sigue creciendo, la piel que lo cubre se vuelve aún más delgada y, en ocasiones, se ulcera; además, el surco en la uña suele persistir mientras continúe la presión.

Con tratamiento, el pronóstico es favorable. Al eliminar el espolón óseo en la articulación se corta el origen del líquido, y una vez que esa fuente se detiene el quiste se estabiliza. Cuando el espolón se extirpa por completo, es sumamente raro que el quiste reaparezca. Incluso cuando el tratamiento se centra únicamente en el espolón y no se interviene en el quiste, la mayoría de los pacientes logran una resolución total. En aquellos casos en que también se extirpa el quiste, la recurrencia ocurre en un porcentaje muy reducido de pacientes: entre el 1,4 % y el 3 %, dependiendo del método empleado; solo un número mínimo necesitará una segunda intervención.

La recuperación postquirúrgica suele ser sencilla. La cicatriz queda bien, y la mayoría de los pacientes se muestran satisfechos con su aspecto y repetirían el procedimiento. La movilidad del dedo se mantiene: no hay pérdida de flexión en la última articulación tras el tratamiento. El surco en la uña suele mejorar al cesar la presión sobre el lecho ungueal; no obstante, la uña puede tardar varios meses en crecer por completo.

Dos advertencias importantes. Primero, gran parte de las recomendaciones sobre los quistes mucosos se basan en la experiencia de los especialistas más que en ensayos clínicos a gran escala; por ello, su cirujano se guiará tanto por su criterio clínico como por los datos publicados. Segundo, cualquier nuevo bulto en la mano merece una evaluación adecuada. En raras ocasiones, otras patologías pueden parecerse a un quiste mucoso; si existe alguna duda sobre el diagnóstico, se puede tomar una muestra para analizarla. Si el bulto evoluciona rápidamente, se vuelve doloroso o la piel se ulcera, acuda a revisión en lugar de esperar a ver qué pasa.

¿Cuándo consultar a un especialista?

La mayoría de los quistes mucosos no requieren atención urgente. Consulte a su médico de cabecera si el bulto le causa dolor, si está creciendo, si altera la apariencia de su uña, o si la piel que lo cubre se vuelve delgada y comienza a desgarrarse. Solicite una evaluación especializada si el dolor persiste a pesar del reposo, el uso de férulas o los cambios en el modo de utilizar la mano. Acuda a urgencias o busque una evaluación inmediata si un bulto en el dedo aparece de repente, crece rápidamente o presenta características distintas a las descritas aquí. En raras ocasiones, un bulto que parece ser un quiste mucoso puede ser algo distinto; por ello, cualquier bulto nuevo o que presente cambios merece una evaluación adecuada en lugar de esperar a ver qué sucede.

En mayor profundidad

Esta sección profundiza más de lo necesario para que usted tome decisiones sobre su propio tratamiento. Vale la pena leer más sobre los quistes mucosos, ya que existe un hallazgo quirúrgico bien fundamentado: el quiste no es el problema, y la intervención que funciona mejor no implica necesariamente su extirpación.

El espolón óseo es la causa, no el quiste

El quiste mucoso se origina en una articulación de la punta del dedo afectada por artritis. El espolón óseo, o osteofito, irrita y perfora la cápsula articular; el líquido sinovial escapa por dicha perforación y se acumula bajo la piel. El quiste es el resultado visible de este proceso, no su causa inicial.

Esta comprensión tiene una consecuencia quirúrgica directa: en una serie de casos, la extirpación del osteofito sin extirpar el quiste condujo a la resolución completa en la mayoría de los pacientes, siendo considerada una buena opción terapéutica que implica un procedimiento menos invasivo [1].

Al eliminar el espolón óseo se cierra la vía de escape del líquido sinovial; el quiste, al dejar de recibir este líquido, desaparece. Esta misma lógica rige en el caso de los quistes ganglionares de la muñeca: es el tallo del quiste, y no el saco en sí, el que determina su recurrencia. Asimismo, explica por qué el simple drenaje o punción de un quiste mucoso fracasa sistemáticamente.

En los casos en que se extirpa el quiste, los resultados también son buenos

El otro método consiste en extirpar el quiste junto con un colgajo cutáneo local para cerrar el defecto. Este método también resulta fiable: en 69 pacientes, la extirpación quirúrgica con un colgajo de avance local arrojó una tasa de recurrencia del 1,4%, además de una alta satisfacción por parte de los pacientes respecto a la cicatriz y su disposición a someterse nuevamente al procedimiento [2].

Ambos métodos son efectivos y atacan la articulación afectada. La diferencia práctica radica en la cantidad de piel implicada: un quiste de larga evolución adelgaza la piel que lo cubre, a veces hasta el punto de producir secreción; en tales casos, esa piel adelgazada debe ser extirpada y reemplazada, independientemente de lo que se haga con el hueso.

¿Por qué la uña se deforma y si puede recuperarse?

Es común que aparezca un surco o relieve a lo largo de toda la uña; esto preocupa más a las personas que el propio bulto. La causa es mecánica: el quiste se ubica justo encima de la matriz germinativa, es decir, la parte del lecho ungueal que genera la uña, y ejerce presión sobre ella, por lo que la uña crece con un defecto.

Lo positivo es que se trata de presión y no de destrucción. Una vez que se descomprime el quiste, la uña suele volver a crecer de forma normal; sin embargo, pueden pasar varios meses hasta que la parte deformada se vaya desprendiendo por el extremo. Por lo tanto, la deformidad de la uña es un motivo para tratar el quiste, no una consecuencia permanente de él.

Motivo por el cual hay que tener cuidado al punzar una de ellas

El quiste mucoso se comunica directamente con la articulación. Punzarlo, ya sea de forma intencionada o por la ruptura de la piel sobre un quiste de gran tamaño, crea un canal desde el exterior hacia la articulación fingeriana; la artritis séptica en una articulación pequeña constituye un problema mucho más grave que el propio quiste.

Este es el argumento práctico en contra del drenaje casero de un quiste que parece ser simplemente una ampolla de líquido, y la razón por la cual un quiste que se drena espontáneamente debe tratarse con cierta urgencia en lugar de simplemente observarse.

Referencias

[1] Lee H, Kim P, Jeon I, Kyung H, Ra I, Kim T. Excisión de osteofitos sin extirpación del quiste en el tratamiento de los quistes mucosos digitales. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2013;39(3):258-61. https://doi.org/10.1177/1753193413478549

[2] Johnson SM, Treon K, Thomas S, Cox QGN. Un tratamiento quirúrgico eficaz para los quistes mucosos digitales. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2013;39(8):856-60. https://doi.org/10.1177/1753193413508540


Evidence & references

This is the clinical evidence summary written for health professionals. It is technical, and it lists the research this page was built from. You do not need to read it to understand your treatment or to make a decision about it.

Overview

  • The scientific data regarding mucous cysts consist almost entirely of retrospective studies [1].
  • Much of what is done or recommended for mucous cysts is based on expert opinion [1].
  • Excision of the cyst and complete removal of the marginal osteophyte eradicates mucous cysts with extremely rare recurrence [2].
  • In-office excision is a safe and effective option for treating digital mucous cysts [3].
  • A total dorsal capsulectomy alone was a simple treatment for mucous cysts and did not lead to any recurrence [4].
  • Eccrine porocarcinomas have a substantial risk of metastasis, high risk of local recurrence, and are potentially fatal [5].
  • Prompt recognition and appropriate treatment are critical for eccrine porocarcinomas presenting as a hand cyst [5].
  • The final recurrence rate of less than 1.5% for osteophyte-sparing treatment may be acceptable and comparable with other techniques [6].
  • The Wolfe Graft technique is simple, easy to perform, and provides satisfactory cosmesis with acceptable recurrence rates [7].
  • Surgical excision with a local advancement skin flap is a reliable treatment for digital mucous cysts [8].
  • Surgical excision with a local advancement skin flap demonstrates a low recurrence rate of 1.4% [8].
  • Surgical excision with a local advancement skin flap demonstrates high patient satisfaction regarding the scar and willingness to undergo the procedure again [8].
  • Osteophyte excision without cyst excision may be a good treatment choice for mucous cyst of the finger [12].
  • Osteophyte excision without cyst excision provides a less invasive method with complete resolution in most cases [12].
  • A successful result was obtained by surgical treatment for an intraneural mucoid cyst in the digital nerve [14].

Anatomy & Pathophysiology

  • Mucous cysts present as small, firm, cystic masses located just distal to the distal interphalangeal joint [11].
  • The lesion is always located to one side of the mid-line [11].
  • Mucous cysts are rarely greater than fifteen millimeters in diameter [11].
  • The skin overlying a mucous cyst is thinned out and occasionally may be ulcerated [11].
  • Pressure on a mucous cyst does not usually result in a decrease in its size [11].
  • Longitudinal grooving of the nail may be noted, occasionally occurring prior to the appearance of the cyst [11].
  • Degenerative arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint is a frequent associated finding with mucous cysts [11].
  • An incidence of 78 percent for degenerative arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint has been reported in association with mucous cysts [11].
  • The histological appearance of a mucous cyst is essentially identical to that of ganglions, synovial cysts, and similar lesions appearing on other areas of the extremities [11].
  • A mucous cyst is surrounded by an undemarcated fibrous capsule [11].
  • The basic structure of a mucous cyst is myxomatous with interspersed fibroblasts [11].
  • Areas of myxomatous degeneration tend to coalesce to form a multiloculated cyst [11].
  • An epithelial lining has not been reported for mucous cysts [11].
  • The etiology of the mucous cyst is indicated by evidence that the lesion arises from the joint capsule [11].
  • Fibro-osseous pseudotumor of the digit should be considered in the differential diagnosis of rapidly enlarging digital lesions [10].

Classification

  • The lesion is a small, firm, cystic mass which appears just distal to the distal interphalangeal joint [11].
  • The lesion is rarely greater than fifteen millimeters in diameter [11].
  • The skin over the lesion is thinned out and occasionally may be ulcerated [11].
  • Pressure on the lesion does not usually result in a decrease in its size [11].
  • Degenerative arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint is a frequent associated finding [11].
  • An incidence of 78 per cent has been reported for degenerative arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint as an associated finding [11].
  • The histological appearance is essentially identical to that of ganglions, synovial cysts, and similar lesions appearing on other areas of the extremities [11].
  • The lesion is surrounded by an undemarcated fibrous capsule [11].
  • The basic structure is myxomatous with interspersed fibroblasts [11].
  • An epithelial lining has not been reported [11].

Clinical Presentation

  • Mucous cysts present as a small, firm, cystic mass located just distal to the distal interphalangeal joint [11].
  • An incidence of 78 per cent has been reported for degenerative arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint associated with mucous cysts [11].

Investigations

  • Ultrasound is a powerful modality for evaluation of pathologic conditions in the hand and wrist [18].
  • Ultrasound provides a cost-effective and expedient alternative and/or adjunct to MRI [18].
  • Ultrasound is best used when there is a specific clinical question regarding a well-localized abnormality [18].
  • A careful physical examination is essential to direct care and future testing if indicated [19].
  • Diagnostic tests such as imaging and serum laboratory studies are useful in the determination of pathology but can be expensive, time consuming, and often nonspecific [19].
  • Pathohistological analysis is useful in cases where doubts arise about the initial diagnosis of a benign tumorous lesion [9].

Treatment

Operative Techniques

  • The use of a Wolfe Graft for the treatment of mucous cysts is a simple technique that provides satisfactory cosmesis with acceptable recurrence rates [7].
  • Surgical excision with a local advancement skin flap is a reliable treatment for digital mucous cysts, demonstrating a low recurrence rate of 1.4% and high patient satisfaction regarding the scar and willingness to undergo the procedure again [8].
  • Osteophyte excision without cyst excision may be a good treatment choice for mucous cyst of the finger, providing a less invasive method with complete resolution in most cases [12].
  • Osteophyte removal results in a low cyst recurrence rate, indicating that it should be undertaken regardless of the surgeon's plan for the soft tissues [37].
  • Surgical treatment of an intraneural mucoid cyst in the digital nerve resulted in a successful outcome [14].

Diagnostic Considerations

  • Pathohistological analysis is useful in cases where doubts arise about the initial diagnosis of a benign tumorous lesion, such as when a malignant natural-Killer cell neoplasm presents as a mucous cyst [9].
  • Prompt recognition and appropriate treatment are critical for eccrine porocarcinomas presenting as hand cysts because they have a substantial risk of metastasis, high risk of local recurrence, and are potentially fatal [5].

Evidence Quality and Decision Factors

  • The scientific data regarding mucous cysts consist almost entirely of retrospective studies, and much of what is done or recommended is based on expert opinion [1].
  • Tumor location, preoperative diagnosis, prior upper extremity tumor, and surgeon affect the likelihood of surgery for an upper extremity tumor [16].

Recurrence

  • Surgical excision with a local advancement skin flap is a reliable treatment for digital mucous cysts, demonstrating a low recurrence rate of 1.4% [8].
  • The Wolfe graft technique provides acceptable recurrence rates for the treatment of mucous cysts [7].

Diagnostic Errors and Malignancy

  • Eccrine porocarcinomas presenting as hand cysts have a substantial risk of metastasis, high risk of local recurrence, and are potentially fatal [5].
  • Pathohistological analysis is useful in cases where doubts arise about the initial diagnosis of a benign tumorous lesion, such as a malignant natural-killer cell neoplasm presenting as a mucous cyst [9].

Surgical Complications and Outcomes

  • The Zitelli bilobed flap allows excision of the cyst and thinned skin with no added risk to the nail matrix [15].
  • The bilobed flap allows radical excision with primary skin healing, no loss of flexion at the distal interphalangeal joint, and excellent cosmesis [21].

Evidence Quality

Differential Diagnosis and Pathology

  • Eccrine porocarcinomas presenting as hand cysts carry a substantial risk of metastasis, high risk of local recurrence, and are potentially fatal [5].

Surgical Outcomes and Recurrence

  • A total dorsal capsulectomy alone did not lead to any recurrence for mucous cysts [4].
  • The final recurrence rate for osteophyte-sparing treatment of mucous cysts was less than 1.5% [6].
  • Surgical excision with a local advancement skin flap for digital mucous cysts demonstrated a low recurrence rate of 1.4% [8].
  • The use of a Wolfe graft for the treatment of mucous cysts provides acceptable recurrence rates [7].

Patient Satisfaction and Safety

  • Patients undergoing surgical excision with a local advancement skin flap for digital mucous cysts reported high satisfaction regarding the scar and willingness to undergo the procedure again [8].
  • The Wolfe graft technique for mucous cysts provides satisfactory cosmesis [7].

Key Evidence

  • [L4] The scientific data regarding mucous cysts consist almost entirely of retrospective studies, and much of what is done or recommended is based on expert opinion. [1] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2010.01.029)
  • [L4] Excision of the cyst and complete removal of the marginal osteophyte eradicates mucous cysts with extremely rare recurrence. [2] (10.2106/00004623-197355030-00013)
  • [Paper] In-office excision is a safe and effective option for treating digital mucous cysts. [3] (10.1177/15589447251350168)
  • [L4] A total dorsal capsulectomy alone was a simple treatment for mucous cysts and did not lead to any recurrence. [4] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2014.03.004)
  • [L4] Prompt recognition and appropriate treatment are critical because eccrine porocarcinomas have a substantial risk of metastasis, high risk of local recurrence, and are potentially fatal. [5] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2016.07.112)
  • [L4] The final recurrence rate of less than 1.5% may be acceptable and comparable with other techniques. [6] (10.5435/jaaosglobal-d-21-00164)
  • [L4] The technique is simple, easy to perform, and provides satisfactory cosmesis with acceptable recurrence rates. [7] (10.1177/1753193408103498)
  • [L4] Surgical excision with a local advancement skin flap is a reliable treatment for digital mucous cysts, demonstrating a low recurrence rate of 1.4% and high patient satisfaction regarding the scar and willingness to undergo the procedure again. [8] (10.1177/1753193413508540)
  • [L5] This case emphasizes the utility of a pathohistological analysis in cases where doubts arise about the initial diagnosis of a benign tumorous lesion. [9] (10.1007/s00402-008-0794-4)
  • [Paper] Fibro-osseous pseudotumor of the digit should be considered in the differential diagnosis of rapidly enlarging digital lesions. [10] (10.1177/15589447261481209)
  • [L4] [11] (10.2106/00004623-197254070-00008)
  • [L4] Osteophyte excision without cyst excision may be a good treatment choice for mucous cyst of the finger, providing a less invasive method with complete resolution in most cases. [12] (10.1177/1753193413478549)
  • [L4] A successful result was obtained by surgical treatment in our case. [14] (10.1177/1753193408099819)
  • [L4] It allows excision of the cyst and thinned skin with no added risk to the nail matrix. [15] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.03.013)
  • [L2] Tumor location, preoperative diagnosis, prior upper extremity tumor, and surgeon affect the likelihood of surgery for an upper extremity tumor. [16] (10.1007/s11552-013-9518-5)
  • [L5] Ultrasound is a powerful modality for evaluation of pathologic conditions in the hand and wrist, providing a cost-effective and expedient alternative and/or adjunct to MRI, best used when there is a specific clinical question regarding a well-localized abnormality. [18] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2009.02.010)
  • [L4] The bilobed flap allows radical excision with primary skin healing, no loss of flexion at the distal interphalangeal joint, and excellent cosmesis. [21] (10.1054/jhsb.1998.0191)
  • [Commentary] The article shows that osteophyte removal results in a low cyst recurrence rate, indicating that it should be undertaken regardless of the surgeon's plan for the soft tissues. [37] (10.1177/1753193413510663)

References

[1] Mucous Cysts. The Journal of Hand Surgery. 2010. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2010.01.029

[2] Marginal Osteophyte Excision in Treatment of Mucous Cysts. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 1973. DOI: 10.2106/00004623-197355030-00013

[3] Safety and Cost-Effectiveness of In-Office Digital Mucous Cyst Excisions. HAND. 2025. DOI: 10.1177/15589447251350168

[4] Total Dorsal Capsulectomy for the Treatment of Mucous Cysts. The Journal of Hand Surgery. 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2014.03.004

[5] Eccrine Porocarcinoma Presenting as a Hand Cyst. The Journal of Hand Surgery. 2016. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2016.07.112

[6] Osteophyte-Sparing Treatment of Mucous Cysts: Case Analysis and Surgical Technique. JAAOS: Global Research and Reviews. 2021. DOI: 10.5435/jaaosglobal-d-21-00164

[7] Use of Wolfe Graft for the Treatment of Mucous Cysts. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 2009. DOI: 10.1177/1753193408103498

[8] A reliable surgical treatment for digital mucous cysts. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 2013. DOI: 10.1177/1753193413508540

[9] Malignant Natural-Killer cell neoplasm presenting as a mucous cyst on the distal interphalangeal joint of the finger. Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery. 2008. DOI: 10.1007/s00402-008-0794-4

[10] Recurrent Fibro-Osseous Pseudotumour of the Digit Mimicking Infection: A Narrative Review and Case Report. HAND. 2026. DOI: 10.1177/15589447261481209

[11] Etiology and Treatment of the So-Called Mucous Cyst of the Finger. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 1972. DOI: 10.2106/00004623-197254070-00008

[12] Osteophyte excision without cyst excision for a mucous cyst of the finger. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 2013. DOI: 10.1177/1753193413478549

[14] Intraneural mucoid cyst in the digital nerve. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 2009. DOI: 10.1177/1753193408099819

[15] The Zitelli Bilobed Flap on Skin Coverage After Mucous Cyst Excision: A Retrospective Cohort of 33 Cases. The Journal of Hand Surgery. 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.03.013

[16] Benign Upper Extremity Tumors: Factors Associated with Operative Treatment. HAND. 2013. DOI: 10.1007/s11552-013-9518-5

[18] Ultrasound of the Hand and Wrist. The Journal of Hand Surgery. 2009. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2009.02.010

[19] Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 13 Ebook Without Multimedia. Anatomy, Evaluation, Clinical Examination, and Imaging > Evaluation and Clinical Examination: Current Concepts.

[21] The Bilobed Flap in Treatment of Mucous Cysts of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint. Journal of Hand Surgery. 1999. DOI: 10.1054/jhsb.1998.0191

[37] Commentary on Lee et al. Osteophyte excision without cyst excision for a mucous cyst of the finger. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 2014. DOI: 10.1177/1753193413510663

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Using Creative Commons Public Licenses

Creative Commons public licenses provide a standard set of terms and conditions that creators and other rights holders may use to share original works of authorship and other material subject to copyright and certain other rights specified in the public license below. The following considerations are for informational purposes only, are not exhaustive, and do not form part of our licenses.

Considerations for licensors: Our public licenses are intended for use by those authorized to give the public permission to use material in ways otherwise restricted by copyright and certain other rights. Our licenses are irrevocable. Licensors should read and understand the terms and conditions of the license they choose before applying it. Licensors should also secure all rights necessary before applying our licenses so that the public can reuse the material as expected. Licensors should clearly mark any material not subject to the license. This includes other CC- licensed material, or material used under an exception or limitation to copyright. More considerations for licensors: wiki.creativecommons.org/Considerations_for_licensors

Considerations for the public: By using one of our public licenses, a licensor grants the public permission to use the licensed material under specified terms and conditions. If the licensor's permission is not necessary for any reason--for example, because of any applicable exception or limitation to copyright--then that use is not regulated by the license. Our licenses grant only permissions under copyright and certain other rights that a licensor has authority to grant. Use of the licensed material may still be restricted for other reasons, including because others have copyright or other rights in the material. A licensor may make special requests, such as asking that all changes be marked or described. Although not required by our licenses, you are encouraged to respect those requests where reasonable. More considerations for the public: wiki.creativecommons.org/Considerations_for_licensees


Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Public License

By exercising the Licensed Rights (defined below), You accept and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Public License ("Public License"). To the extent this Public License may be interpreted as a contract, You are granted the Licensed Rights in consideration of Your acceptance of these terms and conditions, and the Licensor grants You such rights in consideration of benefits the Licensor receives from making the Licensed Material available under these terms and conditions.

Section 1 -- Definitions.

a. Adapted Material means material subject to Copyright and Similar Rights that is derived from or based upon the Licensed Material and in which the Licensed Material is translated, altered, arranged, transformed, or otherwise modified in a manner requiring permission under the Copyright and Similar Rights held by the Licensor. For purposes of this Public License, where the Licensed Material is a musical work, performance, or sound recording, Adapted Material is always produced where the Licensed Material is synched in timed relation with a moving image.

b. Adapter's License means the license You apply to Your Copyright and Similar Rights in Your contributions to Adapted Material in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Public License.

c. Copyright and Similar Rights means copyright and/or similar rights closely related to copyright including, without limitation, performance, broadcast, sound recording, and Sui Generis Database Rights, without regard to how the rights are labeled or categorized. For purposes of this Public License, the rights specified in Section 2(b)(1)-(2) are not Copyright and Similar Rights.

d. Effective Technological Measures means those measures that, in the absence of proper authority, may not be circumvented under laws fulfilling obligations under Article 11 of the WIPO Copyright Treaty adopted on December 20, 1996, and/or similar international agreements.

e. Exceptions and Limitations means fair use, fair dealing, and/or any other exception or limitation to Copyright and Similar Rights that applies to Your use of the Licensed Material.

f. Licensed Material means the artistic or literary work, database, or other material to which the Licensor applied this Public License.

g. Licensed Rights means the rights granted to You subject to the terms and conditions of this Public License, which are limited to all Copyright and Similar Rights that apply to Your use of the Licensed Material and that the Licensor has authority to license.

h. Licensor means the individual(s) or entity(ies) granting rights under this Public License.

i. NonCommercial means not primarily intended for or directed towards commercial advantage or monetary compensation. For purposes of this Public License, the exchange of the Licensed Material for other material subject to Copyright and Similar Rights by digital file-sharing or similar means is NonCommercial provided there is no payment of monetary compensation in connection with the exchange.

j. Share means to provide material to the public by any means or process that requires permission under the Licensed Rights, such as reproduction, public display, public performance, distribution, dissemination, communication, or importation, and to make material available to the public including in ways that members of the public may access the material from a place and at a time individually chosen by them.

k. Sui Generis Database Rights means rights other than copyright resulting from Directive 96/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 1996 on the legal protection of databases, as amended and/or succeeded, as well as other essentially equivalent rights anywhere in the world.

l. You means the individual or entity exercising the Licensed Rights under this Public License. Your has a corresponding meaning.

Section 2 -- Scope.

a. License grant.

1. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Public License, the Licensor hereby grants You a worldwide, royalty-free, non-sublicensable, non-exclusive, irrevocable license to exercise the Licensed Rights in the Licensed Material to:

a. reproduce and Share the Licensed Material, in whole or in part, for NonCommercial purposes only; and

b. produce, reproduce, and Share Adapted Material for NonCommercial purposes only.

2. Exceptions and Limitations. For the avoidance of doubt, where Exceptions and Limitations apply to Your use, this Public License does not apply, and You do not need to comply with its terms and conditions.

3. Term. The term of this Public License is specified in Section 6(a).

4. Media and formats; technical modifications allowed. The Licensor authorizes You to exercise the Licensed Rights in all media and formats whether now known or hereafter created, and to make technical modifications necessary to do so. The Licensor waives and/or agrees not to assert any right or authority to forbid You from making technical modifications necessary to exercise the Licensed Rights, including technical modifications necessary to circumvent Effective Technological Measures. For purposes of this Public License, simply making modifications authorized by this Section 2(a) (4) never produces Adapted Material.

5. Downstream recipients.

a. Offer from the Licensor -- Licensed Material. Every recipient of the Licensed Material automatically receives an offer from the Licensor to exercise the Licensed Rights under the terms and conditions of this Public License.

b. No downstream restrictions. You may not offer or impose any additional or different terms or conditions on, or apply any Effective Technological Measures to, the Licensed Material if doing so restricts exercise of the Licensed Rights by any recipient of the Licensed Material.

6. No endorsement. Nothing in this Public License constitutes or may be construed as permission to assert or imply that You are, or that Your use of the Licensed Material is, connected with, or sponsored, endorsed, or granted official status by, the Licensor or others designated to receive attribution as provided in Section 3(a)(1)(A)(i).

b. Other rights.

1. Moral rights, such as the right of integrity, are not licensed under this Public License, nor are publicity, privacy, and/or other similar personality rights; however, to the extent possible, the Licensor waives and/or agrees not to assert any such rights held by the Licensor to the limited extent necessary to allow You to exercise the Licensed Rights, but not otherwise.

2. Patent and trademark rights are not licensed under this Public License.

3. To the extent possible, the Licensor waives any right to collect royalties from You for the exercise of the Licensed Rights, whether directly or through a collecting society under any voluntary or waivable statutory or compulsory licensing scheme. In all other cases the Licensor expressly reserves any right to collect such royalties, including when the Licensed Material is used other than for NonCommercial purposes.

Section 3 -- License Conditions.

Your exercise of the Licensed Rights is expressly made subject to the following conditions.

a. Attribution.

1. If You Share the Licensed Material (including in modified form), You must:

a. retain the following if it is supplied by the Licensor with the Licensed Material:

i. identification of the creator(s) of the Licensed Material and any others designated to receive attribution, in any reasonable manner requested by the Licensor (including by pseudonym if designated);

ii. a copyright notice;

iii. a notice that refers to this Public License;

iv. a notice that refers to the disclaimer of warranties;

v. a URI or hyperlink to the Licensed Material to the extent reasonably practicable;

b. indicate if You modified the Licensed Material and retain an indication of any previous modifications; and

c. indicate the Licensed Material is licensed under this Public License, and include the text of, or the URI or hyperlink to, this Public License.

2. You may satisfy the conditions in Section 3(a)(1) in any reasonable manner based on the medium, means, and context in which You Share the Licensed Material. For example, it may be reasonable to satisfy the conditions by providing a URI or hyperlink to a resource that includes the required information.

3. If requested by the Licensor, You must remove any of the information required by Section 3(a)(1)(A) to the extent reasonably practicable.

4. If You Share Adapted Material You produce, the Adapter's License You apply must not prevent recipients of the Adapted Material from complying with this Public License.

Section 4 -- Sui Generis Database Rights.

Where the Licensed Rights include Sui Generis Database Rights that apply to Your use of the Licensed Material:

a. for the avoidance of doubt, Section 2(a)(1) grants You the right to extract, reuse, reproduce, and Share all or a substantial portion of the contents of the database for NonCommercial purposes only;

b. if You include all or a substantial portion of the database contents in a database in which You have Sui Generis Database Rights, then the database in which You have Sui Generis Database Rights (but not its individual contents) is Adapted Material; and

c. You must comply with the conditions in Section 3(a) if You Share all or a substantial portion of the contents of the database.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4 supplements and does not replace Your obligations under this Public License where the Licensed Rights include other Copyright and Similar Rights.

Section 5 -- Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability.

a. UNLESS OTHERWISE SEPARATELY UNDERTAKEN BY THE LICENSOR, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, THE LICENSOR OFFERS THE LICENSED MATERIAL AS-IS AND AS-AVAILABLE, AND MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND CONCERNING THE LICENSED MATERIAL, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHER. THIS INCLUDES, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ABSENCE OF LATENT OR OTHER DEFECTS, ACCURACY, OR THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF ERRORS, WHETHER OR NOT KNOWN OR DISCOVERABLE. WHERE DISCLAIMERS OF WARRANTIES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN FULL OR IN PART, THIS DISCLAIMER MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

b. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, IN NO EVENT WILL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE TO YOU ON ANY LEGAL THEORY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR OTHER LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS PUBLIC LICENSE OR USE OF THE LICENSED MATERIAL, EVEN IF THE LICENSOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES. WHERE A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IS NOT ALLOWED IN FULL OR IN PART, THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

c. The disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability provided above shall be interpreted in a manner that, to the extent possible, most closely approximates an absolute disclaimer and waiver of all liability.

Section 6 -- Term and Termination.

a. This Public License applies for the term of the Copyright and Similar Rights licensed here. However, if You fail to comply with this Public License, then Your rights under this Public License terminate automatically.

b. Where Your right to use the Licensed Material has terminated under Section 6(a), it reinstates:

1. automatically as of the date the violation is cured, provided it is cured within 30 days of Your discovery of the violation; or

2. upon express reinstatement by the Licensor.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6(b) does not affect any right the Licensor may have to seek remedies for Your violations of this Public License.

c. For the avoidance of doubt, the Licensor may also offer the Licensed Material under separate terms or conditions or stop distributing the Licensed Material at any time; however, doing so will not terminate this Public License.

d. Sections 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8 survive termination of this Public License.

Section 7 -- Other Terms and Conditions.

a. The Licensor shall not be bound by any additional or different terms or conditions communicated by You unless expressly agreed.

b. Any arrangements, understandings, or agreements regarding the Licensed Material not stated herein are separate from and independent of the terms and conditions of this Public License.

Section 8 -- Interpretation.

a. For the avoidance of doubt, this Public License does not, and shall not be interpreted to, reduce, limit, restrict, or impose conditions on any use of the Licensed Material that could lawfully be made without permission under this Public License.

b. To the extent possible, if any provision of this Public License is deemed unenforceable, it shall be automatically reformed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable. If the provision cannot be reformed, it shall be severed from this Public License without affecting the enforceability of the remaining terms and conditions.

c. No term or condition of this Public License will be waived and no failure to comply consented to unless expressly agreed to by the Licensor.

d. Nothing in this Public License constitutes or may be interpreted as a limitation upon, or waiver of, any privileges and immunities that apply to the Licensor or You, including from the legal processes of any jurisdiction or authority.


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