Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Case report: intraneural ganglion cyst of the ulnar nerve at the wrist

  • Case Reports
  • Published:
HAND

Abstract

We report a case of a 69-year-old male who presented with pain, weakness, and clumsiness of his right hand. Initial evaluation suggested possible neoplastic process affecting his cervical spine, which was fortunately ruled out by bone biopsy. Subsequent electrodiagnostic studies and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a lesion of the deep ulnar motor branch. Exploration of Guyon’s canal was performed, and an intraneural ganglion involving the deep motor branch of the ulnar nerve was found and excised. Despite more than 14 months of symptomatic duration, the patient made a near-complete recovery with virtually no functional limitations. This provides supporting evidence for a functional benefit of intraneural ganglion excision and nerve decompression even in cases of chronic muscle atrophy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  1. Allieu PY, Cenac PE. Peripheral nerve mucoid degeneration of the upper extremity. J Hand Surg Am. 1989;14:189–94.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bowers WH, Doppelt SH. Compression of the deep branch of the ulnar nerve by an intraneural cyst. Case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1979;61:612–3.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Elangovan S, Odegard GM, Morrow DA, et al. Intraneural ganglia: a clinical problem deserving a mechanistic explanation and model. Neurosurg Focus. 2009;26:E11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Giele H, Le Viet D. Intraneural mucoid cysts of the upper limb. J Hand Surg Br. 1997;22:805–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Gurdjian ES, Larsen RD, Lindner DW. Intraneural cyst of the peroneal and ulnar nerves. Report of two cases. J Neurosurg. 1965;23:76–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Harbaugh KS, Tiel RL, Kline DG. Ganglion cyst involvement of peripheral nerves. J Neurosurg. 1997;87:403–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hartwell AS. Cystic tumor of median nerve; operation: Restoration of function. Boston Med Surg J. 1901;144:582–3.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hashizume H, Nishida K, Nanba Y, et al. Intraneural ganglion of the posterior interosseous nerve with lateral elbow pain. J Hand Surg Br. 1995;20:649–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Jenkins SA. Solitary tumours of peripheral nerve trunks. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1952;34:401–11.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ming Chan K, Thompson S, Amirjani N, et al. Compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow by an intraneural ganglion. J Clin Neurosci. 2003;10:245–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Spinner RJ, Vincent JF, Wolanskyj AP, et al. Intraneural ganglion cyst: a 200-year-old mystery solved. Clin Anat. 2008;21:611–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Spinner RJ, Scheithauer BW, Amrami KK. The unifying articular (synovial) origin of intraneural ganglia: evolution–revelation–revolution. Neurosurg. 2009;65(4suppl):A115–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Uetani M, Hashmi R, Hayashi K, et al. Peripheral nerve intraneural ganglion cyst: MR findings in three cases. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1998;22:629–32.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wang H, Terrill RQ, Tanaka S, et al. Adherence of intraneural ganglia of the upper extremity to the principles of the unifying articular (synovial) theory. Neurosurg Focus. 2009;26:1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Zielinski CJ. Intraneural ganglion of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. Orthopedics. 2003;26:429–30.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Missouri, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA

    Stephen H. Colbert & MyChi H. Le

Authors
  1. Stephen H. Colbert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. MyChi H. Le
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen H. Colbert.

About this article

Cite this article

Colbert, S.H., Le, M.H. Case report: intraneural ganglion cyst of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. HAND 6, 317–320 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-011-9329-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-011-9329-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation