Service
Ganglion (a lump on the wrist joint)
A ganglion is a sac filled with thick fluid that grows out of a joint or tendon sheath, most often on the upper side of the wrist or on a finger. It appears and disappears, and sometimes hurts when you lean on it. It is not dangerous; it is removed when it bothers you.
What concerns does it address?
Aspiration
The fluid is drained with a needle. It is quick and simple, but a ganglion often fills up again after aspiration.
Surgery
The ganglion is removed together with its root from the joint, through an incision on the wrist. It comes back less often than after aspiration, but the tendency remains.
When is the procedure not suitable?
A ganglion that does not hurt and does not bother you does not have to be removed — some disappear by themselves over time. It is not operated on with active inflammation of the skin over it. If a lump is growing quickly, is hard or is not on a joint, it is not removed as a ganglion until it is clear what it is.
General reasons for postponing a procedure (pregnancy, breastfeeding, inflammation, a clotting disorder, smoking): When is a procedure postponed?
Anaesthesia
Before a procedure under general or regional anaesthesia, you are seen by the anaesthetist, who works full time at the clinic; the same doctor is also present during the procedure. The anaesthetic assessment and the anaesthesia for larger operations are included in the price of the procedure. What happens before, during and after anaesthesia is described on the Anaesthesia page.
Risks
Occasional — stiffness of the wrist for a few weeks, the ganglion coming back.
Expected, and rare but serious → Risks and complications: what is the course of healing, and what is a complication?
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Aspiration of a ganglion | €80 |
| Ganglion surgery | €500–1,000 |
Specialist and team
Specialty: general surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
What happens at the examination?
The first examination lasts 30 to 45 minutes on average. The surgeon examines the area you are concerned about, asks about illnesses, medicines, allergies and previous operations, and talks with you about what you expect. If the procedure is appropriate and likely to help, you receive a plan: which procedure is proposed, under which anaesthesia, what recovery looks like and what is included in the price. If the procedure is not needed or would not give you what you expect, you will hear that at the examination too.
What if the result is not as agreed?
The result of a procedure is assessed at a follow-up visit, once the swelling has gone down and the scar has matured, not in the first weeks. If it differs from what was agreed at the examination, the same surgeon carries out the correction.
→ Poliklinika Barbel's correction policy
Frequently asked questions
What is a ganglion? A small bubble filled with thick fluid that comes out of the sheath of a joint or tendon, most often on the upper side of the wrist. It is benign and is not a tumour. It forms for no clear reason, more often in women and with repeated strain on the wrist.
Can it just be aspirated? It can — the fluid is drained with a needle, sometimes with an injection. The sheath stays, so in about half of people the ganglion comes back. Surgery removes the ganglion with its root on the joint, so the ganglion comes back less often.
Can I press it so it bursts? No. A blow with a book — the old advice — can damage the joint and tendon, and the ganglion fills up again anyway.
How much does the result depend on care after the procedure? The larger the procedure, the more it depends on it, but it always does. Healing takes weeks and months and happens almost entirely at home, so the instructions you receive when you go home, about the wound, physical activity and the scar, are part of the procedure, not a recommendation.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.