Ann Rehabil Med.  2014 Jun;38(3):415-420. 10.5535/arm.2014.38.3.415.

Therapeutic Approach of Wrist Ganglion Using Electroacupuncture: Two Case Reports

• Kim KM
• Kang EY
• Lee SH
• Jung AY
• Nam DH
• Cheon JH

• KMID: 2165763
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2014.38.3.415

Abstract

A ganglion cyst is a relatively common benign tumor on the wrist. Conservative and surgical approaches have been used for its treatment. Various conservative treatment methods have been suggested such as reassurance, aspiration, sclerosant injection, and direct compression. But, there is no acceptable treatment of choice yet because each suggested method has a relatively high recurrence rate. We want to report two cases in which the size of the wrist ganglion was decreased by using electroacupuncture. One patient presented with a chronic ganglion for six years and the other patient presented with a recently occurred acute ganglion. We applied electroacupuncture for 20 minutes once a week for eight weeks to both of them. Afterwards, the size of the wrist ganglion diminished in the follow-up sonography and the accompanying pain was also relieved. Herein we report both cases along with a review of the relevant literature.

Keyword

Ganglion cysts; Electroacupuncture

MeSH Terms

Electroacupuncture*
Follow-Up Studies
Ganglion Cysts*
Humans
Recurrence
Wrist*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Picture of the mass (arrow) at the left wrist dorsum of case 1 patient before (A, lateral view; B, superior view) and after (C, lateral view; D, superior view) treatment.

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  Fig. 2 Comparison of the dorsal wrist ganglion size of case 1 patient by ultrasonography before (A, 1.46×1.01 cm) and after (B, 0.53×0.58 cm) electroacupuncture.

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  Fig. 3 (A) Electroacupuncture equipment (ONJ P-702, Hyumedi). (B) Position of patient and needle insertion locations (a, extensor digitorum communis muscle belly; b, ganglion cyst site at wrist dorsum).

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  Fig. 4 Comparison of dorsal wrist ganglion size of case 2 patient by ultrasonography before (A, 1.45×0.62 cm) and after (B, 0.64×0.25 cm) electroacupuncture.

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