Ganglionectomy

Ganglionectomy, sometimes called gangliectomy, is the surgical removal of a ganglion, most often a ganglion cyst that has formed on the hand, wrist, or foot. Doctors normally try less invasive treatments first, such as draining the cyst with a needle or injecting a steroid, and reserve surgical removal for cysts that keep causing pain or restrict movement after those treatments fail; the surgery can be done under local, regional, or general anesthesia. The same operation is also used for a different purpose, cutting a nerve ganglion to treat chronic pain rather than removing a cyst.