Comparing two surgical treatment methods for mucous cysts of the distal interphalangeal joint in elderly patients / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To contrast and compare two surgical treatments for mucous cysts of the distal interphalangeal joint.Methods Clinical data from April 2004 to January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients who underwent tumor excision,osteophyte excision,and local flap coverage were assigned into a flap group(n=16),while patients who received osteophyte excision,cyst pedicle resection,and cystic fluid drainage were assigned into a simple osteophyte resection group(n=17).Procedure time,pain,satisfaction score,and hand function were compared between the two groups.Results Patients in the flap group were followed up for 14 to 28 months(mean=19.5 months);the simple osteophyte resection group for 15 to 26 months(mean=20.5 months).There was no recurrence in either group.The rate of excellent efficacy was 81.25 ％ (13/16)for the skin flap group and 82.35 ％ (14/17) for the simple osteophyte resection group,and the difference was not statistically significant(x2=0.007,P ＞ 0.05).Pain relief was achieved in both groups after operation,and the postoperative satisfaction score was higher than the pre-operation score.There was no statistical difference in pre operation pain and satisfaction scores (t 0.14 and 0.35,both P ＞ 0.05),no statistical difference in postoperative pain scores(t =-0.09,P ＞ 0.05),but a statistically significant difference in postoperative satisfaction scores (t =-4.15,P ＜ 0.05) between the two groups.Conclusions Two surgical treatments of mucous cysts can achieve satisfactory aesthetic and clinical outcomes.The simple osteophyte resection method is characterized by a short procedure time and a high level of postoperative satisfaction,but it requires training in microsurgery.Local flap coverage is simple and suitable for lower level hospitals where staff surgeons may lack microsurgical skills,but it may result in certain minor injuries.