Dr. Stephen B. Schnall

Stephen Schnall, M.D.

This mysterious manifestation is a ganglion cyst, the most common tumor of the hand, explains Stephen B. Schnall, M.D., chief of the USC Hand Surgery Service.

"The cysts, usually forming on the back of the wrist or near the joints of the fingers, fill with a jelly-like substance," says Schnall."They can spontaneously disappear or change in size.They aren't known to be cancerous."

The cysts can grow when the tissue is irritated by strenuous hand use.Large ganglions can restrict the range of hand movement, sometimes becoming tender or painful.

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Schnall says most people notice a lump under the skin on the front or back of the wrist or over a tendon at the base of a finger on the palm side.Some patients notice wrist pain when they use their hands a lot or when there is swelling.

"Some believe that occupations requiring excessive use of the wrist and fingers may precipitate a growth," he says.

Many of these cysts do not require treatment."If they don't bother the patient, I sometimes recommend that they leave them alone," Schnall says.

Anti-inflammatory medication may be prescribed to reduce swelling.If the cyst becomes painful, interferes with function or the patient does not like the appearance, he says, the fluid can be removed from the cyst with a needle.

"Ultimately, removing the cyst through surgery gives the best chance of a permanent cure," Schnall says."Nevertheless, ganglion cysts may return."

Pamper Yourself

For babies and toddlers, having "an accident" is an expected occurrence.But for adults, leaking urine can be an embarrassment.Called incontinence, the problem of involuntary loss of bladder control affects countless people.Yet many are too shy to seek help or think it is an unavoidable part of growing older.

Stephen B. Schnall, M.D.--Chief of Hand Surgery USC Medical Center
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Stephen B. Schnall, M.D.--MEDICAL

Dr. Schnall serves as Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chief of Hand Surgery at Los Angeles County and USC Medical Centers.He is a Joseph H. Boyes Hand Fellow and directs this program at USC which is the oldest formal fellowship for surgery of the hand in the United States.In 1990, Dr. Schnall earned the Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand.He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.

Stephen B. Schnall , M.D.--Chief of Hand Surgery USC Medical Center
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Stephen B. Schnall , M.D.--MEDICALDr. Schnall serves as Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chief of Hand Surgery at Los Angeles County and USC Medical Centers.He is a Joseph H. Boyes Hand Fellow and directs this program at USC which is the oldest formal fellowship for surgery of the hand in the United States.In 1990 , Dr. Schnall earned the Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand.He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.He can be reached at 323/442-5860.