AzTrials
AzTrials

Wrist GanglionNCT04932122

Outcomes After Dorsal Wrist Ganglia Excision With or Without PIN

A study testing Dorsal wrist ganglion alone (DWG) and DWG/PIN in people with Wrist Ganglion and Ganglion Cysts, run by Kenneth Taylor, M.D. at 2 sites in United States.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if a statistical significance exists between outcomes of patients treated for dorsal wrist ganglion cyst with excision alone versus excision and the addition of a partial wrist denervation by resecting the common terminal sensory branch of the PIN (posterior interosseus… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Wrist Ganglion, Ganglion Cysts, Hand Ganglion
What is being tested?
Dorsal wrist ganglion alone (DWG) and DWG/PIN
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
3 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
7 Aug 2023to 3 Feb 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Greater than or equal to 18 years of age
  • Gender: male/female (non-pregnant)
  • Diagnosis of symptomatic (pain and limited ability to perform activities of daily living) dorsal wrist ganglion cyst
  • Subjects who have chosen surgical management for their ganglion cyst diagnosis
  • Fluent in written and spoken English
  • Subject is able to provide voluntary, written informed consent
  • Subject, in the opinion of the clinical investigator, is able to understand the clinical investigation and is willing to perform all study procedures and follow-up visits
  • Non-Prisoners

Who cannot join

  • Less than 18 years of age
  • Non-elective surgery for this diagnosis
  • Chronic wrist instability of the operative extremity
  • Comorbid neurologic maladies of the operative extremity
  • Prior wrist surgery on either extremity
  • Non-English speaking
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Prisoners
  • Pregnancy
  • Cognitive Impairment

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

United States2 sites
  • Penn State Health Medical Group - Camp Hill Specialties

    Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, 17011

  • Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

    Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Outcomes of Surgical Excision of Dorsal Wrist Ganglia With or Without Partial Wrist Denervation

The purpose of this study is to determine if a statistical significance exists between outcomes of patients treated for dorsal wrist ganglion cyst with excision alone versus excision and the addition of a partial wrist denervation by resecting the common terminal sensory branch of the PIN (posterior interosseus nerve). Our hypothesis is that addition of PIN improves outcome after dorsal wrist ganglion excision as indicated by post-operative pain, function, ability to perform activities of daily living, and physical exam findings.

Read the detailed description

The primary endpoint will be outcomes on subject surveys and questionnaires. Data will be collected pre- and post-operatively at 2 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and one year. Four questionnaires will be used, including the Visual Analog Pain Score (VAS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire, as well as the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference (PI), and the PROMIS Pain Behavior (PB) questionnaires.

Secondary outcomes include physical examination consisting of pre- and post-operative pinch and grip strength testing, and active range of motion including wrist flexion and extension ulnar and radial deviation, and weight bearing extension. These will be performed at 2 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months post-operatively.

Being tested
Dorsal wrist ganglion alone (DWG), DWG/PIN
Keywords
ganglion cysts, dorsal wrist ganglia, neurectomy, denervation, posterior interosseous nerve
Medical subject headings
Ganglion Cysts

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Dorsal wrist ganglion alone (DWG)Procedure or surgery

    Patients assigned to this arm will undergo dorsal wrist ganglion cyst excision alone.

  • DWG/PINProcedure or surgery

    Patients assigned to this arm will undergo dorsal wrist ganglion excision and the addition of a partial wrist denervation by resecting the common terminal sensory branch of the posterior interosseus nerve (PIN)..

Study groups in NCT04932122
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Dorsal wrist ganglion alone (DWG)Active comparatorDorsal wrist ganglion excision alone
Receives: Procedure: Dorsal wrist ganglion alone (DWG)
DWG with PINActive comparatorDorsal wrist ganglion excision with posterior interosseus neurectomy (PIN)
Receives: Procedure: DWG/PIN

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Pain measured with the Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS)

    Self-report measurement that assesses a person's perceived level of pain

    Measured: Preop to One Year Post-Op

  2. Physical Function measured with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH)

    11-Item questionnaire that measures physical function and symptoms in people with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb

    Measured: Preop to One Year Post-Op

  3. Pain interference measured with the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information (PROMIS) Pain Interference instrument

    This instrument measures the self-reported consequences of pain on relevant aspects of one's life and may include the extent to which pain hinders engagement with social, cognitive, emotional, physical, and recreational activities.

    Measured: Preop to One Year Post-Op

  4. Pain behavior measured with the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information (PROMIS) Pain Behavior instrument

    This instrument measures self-reported external manifestations of pain: behaviors that typically indicate to others that an individual is experiencing pain.

    Measured: Preop to One Year Post-Op

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Change in strength utilizing hand grip measurements

    This measurement provides information about muscle strength health in the hand and forearms. The average of three measurements is taken using a hand-held dynamometer

    Measured: Preop to 6 Months Post-Op

  2. Change in strength utilizing finger lateral pinch measurements

    This measurement provides information about the functional strength of one's pinching action of the hand using a mechanical pinch gauge. The average of three measurements will be taken at each time frame.

    Measured: Preop to 6 Months Post-Op

  3. Change in strength utilizing finger tip pinch measurements

    This measurement provides information about the functional strength of one's pinching action of the hand using a mechanical pinch gauge. The average of three measurements will be taken at each time frame.

    Measured: Preop to 6 Months Post-Op

  4. Change in strength utilizing finger three-point pinch measurements

    This measurement provides information about the functional strength of one's pinching action of the hand using a mechanical pinch gauge. The average of three measurements will be taken at each time frame.

    Measured: Preop to 6 Months Post-Op

  5. Change in wrist flexion

    This measurement indicates the range of motion of the wrist utilizing a goniometer

    Measured: Preop to 6 Months Post-Op

  6. Change in wrist extension

    This measurement indicates the range of motion of the wrist utilizing a goniometer

    Measured: Preop to 6 Months Post-Op

  7. Change in wrist weight bearing extension

    This measurement indicates the range of motion of the wrist utilizing a goniometer

    Measured: Preop to 6 Months Post-Op

  8. Change in wrist ulnar deviation

    This measurement indicates the range of motion of the wrist from side to side. This movement flexes the hand toward the ulnar bone in the arm. This is measured with a goniometer.

    Measured: Preop to 6 Months Post-Op

  9. Change in wrist radial deviation

    This measurement indicates the range of motion of the wrist from side to side. This movement flexes the hand toward the radial bone in the arm. This is measured with a goniometer.

    Measured: Preop to 6 Months Post-Op

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted18 Jun 2021
  2. Study start7 Aug 2023
  3. Primary completion3 Feb 2026
  4. Study completion3 Feb 2026

Why it stopped: Study recruitment stopped due to recruitment problems

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
3 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04932122
Sponsor's protocol ID
STUDY00016888
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
24 May 2021
Last updated
11 Feb 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Ho PC, Griffiths J, Lo WN, Yen CH, Hung LK. Current treatment of ganglion of the wrist. Hand Surg. 2001 Jul;6(1):49-58. doi: 10.1142/s0218810401000540.

    PubMed 11677666
  • Thornburg LE. Ganglions of the hand and wrist. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 1999 Jul-Aug;7(4):231-8. doi: 10.5435/00124635-199907000-00003.

    PubMed 10434077
  • Angelides AC, Wallace PF. The dorsal ganglion of the wrist: its pathogenesis, gross and microscopic anatomy, and surgical treatment. J Hand Surg Am. 1976 Nov;1(3):228-35. doi: 10.1016/s0363-5023(76)80042-1.

    PubMed 1018091
  • Clay NR, Clement DA. The treatment of dorsal wrist ganglia by radical excision. J Hand Surg Br. 1988 May;13(2):187-91. doi: 10.1016/0266-7681_88_90135-0.

    PubMed 3385297
  • Dellon AL, Seif SS. Anatomic dissections relating the posterior interosseous nerve to the carpus, and the etiology of dorsal wrist ganglion pain. J Hand Surg Am. 1978 Jul;3(4):326-32. doi: 10.1016/s0363-5023(78)80032-x.

    PubMed 681715
  • Carr D, Davis P. Distal posterior interosseous nerve syndrome. J Hand Surg Am. 1985 Nov;10(6 Pt 1):873-8. doi: 10.1016/s0363-5023(85)80165-9.

    PubMed 4078272
  • Dellon AL. Partial dorsal wrist denervation: resection of the distal posterior interosseous nerve. J Hand Surg Am. 1985 Jul;10(4):527-33. doi: 10.1016/s0363-5023(85)80077-0.

    PubMed 4020064
  • Faithfull DK, Seeto BG. The simple wrist ganglion--more than a minor surgical procedure? Hand Surg. 2000 Dec;5(2):139-43. doi: 10.1142/s0218810400000235.

    PubMed 11301508
  • Fukumoto K, Kojima T, Kinoshita Y, Koda M. An anatomic study of the innervation of the wrist joint and Wilhelm's technique for denervation. J Hand Surg Am. 1993 May;18(3):484-9. doi: 10.1016/0363-5023(93)90096-L.

    PubMed 8515020
  • Hudak PL, Amadio PC, Bombardier C. Development of an upper extremity outcome measure: the DASH (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand) [corrected]. The Upper Extremity Collaborative Group (UECG). Am J Ind Med. 1996 Jun;29(6):602-8. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199606)29:63.0.CO;2-L.

    PubMed 8773720
  • Chung KC, Pillsbury MS, Walters MR, Hayward RA. Reliability and validity testing of the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire. J Hand Surg Am. 1998 Jul;23(4):575-87. doi: 10.1016/S0363-5023(98)80042-7.

    PubMed 9708370
  • Ware JE Jr, Sherbourne CD. The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). I. Conceptual framework and item selection. Med Care. 1992 Jun;30(6):473-83.

    PubMed 1593914
  • Szabo RM. Outcomes assessment in hand surgery: when are they meaningful? J Hand Surg Am. 2001 Nov;26(6):993-1002. doi: 10.1053/jhsu.2001.29487.

    PubMed 11721242
  • Gundes H, Cirpici Y, Sarlak A, Muezzinoglu S. Prognosis of wrist ganglion operations. Acta Orthop Belg. 2000 Oct;66(4):363-7.

    PubMed 11103488
  • BUTLER ED, HAMILL JP, SEIPEL RS, DE LORIMIER AA. Tumors of the hand. A ten-year survey and report of 437 cases. Am J Surg. 1960 Aug;100:293-302. doi: 10.1016/0002-9610(60)90302-0. No abstract available.

    PubMed 13806476

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Dorsal wrist ganglion alone (DWG) and DWG/PIN in people with Wrist Ganglion and Ganglion Cysts, run by Kenneth Taylor, M.D. at 2 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study was stopped early (reason given: Study recruitment stopped due to recruitment problems). Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Pain measured with the Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS) (time frame: Preop to One Year Post-Op). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04932122, which also lists 18 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Feb 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in