title: Outcomes of Open Dorsal Wrist Ganglion Excision in Active-Duty Military Personnel.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the most common presenting complaints of active-duty service members with isolated dorsal wrist ganglions and to determine the rate of return to unrestricted duty after open excision.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical records at 2 military facilities were screened to identify male and female active duty service members undergoing isolated open excision of dorsal wrist ganglions from January 1, 2006 to January 1, 2014. Electronic medical records and service disability databases were searched to identify the most common presenting symptoms and to determine whether patients returned to unrestricted active duty after surgery. Postoperative outcomes examined were pain persisting greater than 4 weeks after surgery, stiffness requiring formal occupational therapy treatment, surgical wound complications, and recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 125 active duty military personnel (Army, 54; Navy, 43; and Marine Corps, 28) met criteria for inclusion. Mean follow-up was 45 months. Fifteen percent (8 of 54) of the Army personnel were given permanent waivers from performing push-ups owing to persistent pain and stiffness. Pain persisting greater than 4 weeks after surgery was an independent predictor of eventual need for a permanent push-up waiver. The overall recurrence incidence was 9%. No demographic or perioperative factors were associated with recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients whose occupation or activities require forceful wrist extension should be counseled on the considerable risk of residual pain and functional limitations that may occur after open dorsal wrist ganglion excision.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Balazs
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Donohue
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ipsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Nanos
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD. Electronic address: scott.tintle@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tintle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D045888:Ganglion Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014953:Wrist / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Dorsal wrist ganglion