Musculoskeletal system >>>> How to treat hygroma?

How to treat hygroma?

Hygroma is a tumor-like formation in the joint area, which is an accumulation of fluid (serous, fibrinous, mucous, hemorrhagic), jelly-like in consistency, surrounded by connective tissue and located in the joint capsule or synovial membrane. The fluid that forms the hygroma according to the dropsy principle is the result of effusion from the small blood vessels surrounding the tissue adjacent to the joint. If serous inflammation develops, then a lymphocytic infiltrate appears in the liquid component of the hygroma (the result of the work of lymphocytes - cells of the immune system).

The connective tissue surrounding the viscous contents of the hygroma is of varying degrees of density: soft elastic or cartilage-like. The hygroma capsule can be connected to adjacent tissues or exist autonomously. In fact, the hygroma resembles a cyst located in the tendon sheath, joint capsule or near them. Hygroma can be single or located in clusters. Multiple hygromas in one area often arise against the background of an accidental injury to the hygroma itself, when its contents are squeezed into the surrounding tissues and then sealed again.

The most common places of localization of hygroma are the hand, wrist joint, foot, ankle joint. The appearance of a hygroma is a consequence of inflammation that develops against the background of chronic injury, compression or overload of the joint. In addition, chronic diseases (bursitis, tendovaginitis) can become the cause of hygroma. Often, hygroma develops in young women who are used to carrying a child in their arms or in men whose work is associated with physical overload of the joints.

The hygroma may outwardly resemble a lipoma, but, unlike the latter, it is characterized by:

pain syndrome with pressure or movement in the joint,
limitation of flexion functions of the joint,
a fairly rapid increase in tumor size.

Hygroma treatment is based on surgical intervention with the aim of removing it. Removal of hygroma can be carried out by puncturing and sucking the contents of the capsule, followed by enzymatic treatment and the introduction of glucocorticosteroids into the cavity.

But the most effective method is the excision of the hygroma, since the puncture of the hygroma often gives relapses. The operation is not easy, since nerve fibers, vessels and the ligamentous apparatus are located nearby. The operation is performed under local anesthesia. When removing the hygroma, special attention is paid to the excision of the hygroma capsule itself and the detection of nearby small cysts. The hygroma cavity is sutured and drained, then after two days the drainage is removed. The stitches are removed after a week.

Modern methods of removing the hygroma allow the use of endoscopes during its extraction, which cause less trauma and can shorten the healing time.

Conservative therapies based on physical therapy and medication have no effect and tend to delay the operation rather than benefit.