Wrist GanglionGangLionNCT07162415
Ganglion Resection Effectiveness Trial
A study testing Open resection, Arthroscopic resection and Conservative treatment in people with Wrist Ganglion and Ganglion, run by Tampere University Hospital at 6 sites in 2 countries.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if surgery helps with wrist ganglions in adults. The main question it aims to answer is: Does surgery result in better patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction over a 6-months follow-up period? Researchers will compare surgery to conservative treatment (self-administered… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Wrist Ganglion, Ganglion, Ganglion Cyst
- What is being tested?
- Open resection, Arthroscopic resection and Conservative treatment
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 220 participants
- Where
- 6 sitesin 2 countries
- Study dates
- 13 Jan 2026to Dec 2035
- Phase
- Interventional
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
- diagnosis of ganglion of the wrist, based on clinical examination or imaging findings
- wrist pain located in the ganglion area
- age over 18 years
- ability to fill out the Finnish or English version of the questionnaires
Who cannot join
- pregnant or breast feeding
- other wrist pathology that likely explains the pain (e.g. osteoarthritis)
- previous surgical treatment of the wrist
- wrist ganglion presumed to be related to a work injury
- symptomatic ganglion at both sides (volar and dorsal) of the wrist
Trial locations and contacts
6 sites in 2 countries. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
6 sites in 2 countries
Finland5 sites, 5 recruiting
- Recruiting
Helsinki University Hospital
Helsinki, 00029
Panu H Nordback, MD, PhD, +35894711, panu.nordback@hus.fi
Panu H Nordback, MD, PhD
- Not yet recruiting
Hospital Nova of Central Finland
Jyväskylä, 40620
Teemu Karjalainen, MD, PhD, +358142691811, teemu.karjalainen@hyvaks.fi
- Recruiting
Päijät-Häme Central Hospital
Lahti, 15850
Marjut Westman, MD, PhD, +358381911, marjut.westman@paijatha.fi
Marjut Westman, MD, PhD
- Recruiting
Oulu University Hospital
Oulu, 90029
Matti-Aleksi Mosorin, MD, PhD, +358086699500, matti-aleksi.mosorin@pohde.fi
Matti-Aleksi Mosorin, MD, PhD
- Recruiting
Tampere University Hospital
Tampere, 33521
Lasse Linnanmäki, MD, PhD, +3583311611, lasse.linnanmaki@fimnet.fi
Lasse Linnanmäki, MD, PhD
Singapore1 site, 1 recruiting
- Not yet recruiting
National University Hospital
Singapore, 119228
Alphonsus KS Chong, MD, PhD, +6569082222, alphonsus_chong@nuhs.edu.sg
Alphonsus KS Chong, MD, PhD
About this study
Official title: GangLion Resection Effectiveness Trial (GangLion): a Multicentre, Randomized, Superiority Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if surgery helps with wrist ganglions in adults. The main question it aims to answer is:
- Does surgery result in better patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction over a 6-months follow-up period?
Researchers will compare surgery to conservative treatment (self-administered exercises and use of the hand as tolerated) to see if surgery provides superior outcomes.
Participants will:
- Be randomly assigned to receive either surgery or conservative treatment
- Complete questionnaires about wrist pain, function, quality of life, satisfaction, and recovery at 3, 6, and 12 months
Read the detailed description
Wrist ganglions are the most common soft tissue tumors of the hand and also the most frequently excised hand lesions. Despite their high prevalence, the best treatment remains uncertain, as earlier studies have provided conflicting evidence and randomized controlled data are scarce.
This study is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, superiority trial comparing surgical excision with conservative care in adults with a painful wrist ganglion. The trial is conducted in Finland and Singapore, with participants randomized in equal groups. Follow-up continues for 12 months, with primary evaluation at 6 months.
The study protocol has been reviewed and approved by the regional ethics committee. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to enrollment. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific meetings to inform clinical decision-making for patients with wrist ganglions.
- Conditions
- Wrist Ganglion, Ganglion, Ganglion Cyst, Connective Tissue Disease, Mucinoses
- Being tested
- Open resection, Arthroscopic resection, Conservative treatment
- Keywords
- ganglion, wrist
- Medical subject headings
- Ganglion Cysts, Connective Tissue Diseases, Mucinoses
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Open resectionProcedure or surgery
A transverse or longitudinal incision is done depending on surgeon's preference. The ganglion and its pedicle are traced up to its origin. The pedicle is resected tangentially, usually, from the SL ligament for dorsal ganglions and depending on the site for volar ganglion. Wrist capsule is not closed.
Arthroscopic resectionProcedure or surgery
Portals are selected by surgeon's preference. The pedicle of the ganglion is located and resected with a shaver. It is not necessary to remove all the ganglion walls. The portal incisions do not need to be sutured.
Conservative treatmentOther
Participant will be informed about the natural course of wrist ganglions. The conservative treatment may include needle aspiration of the ganglion, but it is not performed routinely. If a participant requests aspiration, the decision to perform it is left to the clinical discretion of the treating physician. Participants are informed that wrist loading in extension may exacerbate the pain, and that the pain is not a sign of further injury to wrist joint. They may avoid heavy use if they have too much pain, but they are advised to use hand as tolerated. Participants may use NSAIDs and acetaminophen for pain management as needed; however, the protocol does not specify a required course or dosage. Every participant is given simple self-implemented exercise therapy instructions; the exercises are to be performed three times a week until symptoms are relieved.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Surgery | Experimental | Ganglion resection is performed in an operating room within 2 months of randomization, using either an open or an arthroscopic approach at the surgeon's discretion. There are no restrictions on anaesthesia methods. A bulky dressing is applied and removed within a week, and active range of motion exercises are begun immediately. Participants also receive the same self-implemented exercise instructions as the conservative treatment group. Receives: Procedure: Open resection; Procedure: Arthroscopic resection |
| Conservative treatment | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Conservative treatment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Patient-Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) pain score
The PRWHE is a 15-item questionnaire that is designed to measure wrist pain and disability in activities of daily living. Symptoms are described as average over the past week. The PRWHE consists of two subscales: pain and function. The PRWHE pain includes five items with combined score from 0 (no pain) to 50 (worst ever).
Measured: 6 months follow-ups
Secondary outcomes (9)
PRWHE pain score
The PRWHE is a 15-item questionnaire that is designed to measure wrist pain and disability in activities of daily living. Symptoms are described as average over the past week. The PRWHE consists of two subscales: pain and function. The PRWHE pain includes five items with combined score from 0 (no pain) to 50 (worst ever).
Measured: 3 and 12 months follow-ups
PRWHE function score
The PRWHE is a 15-item questionnaire that is designed to measure wrist pain and disability in activities of daily living. Symptoms are described as average over the past week. The PRWHE consists of two subscales: pain and function. Score of the PRWHE function ranges from 0 (no difficulty) to 50 (unable to do).
Measured: 3, 6, and 12 months follow-ups
PRWHE total score
The PRWHE is a 15-item questionnaire that is designed to measure wrist pain and disability in activities of daily living. Symptoms are described as average over the past week. The PRWHE consists of two subscales: pain and function. The PRWHE total ranges from 0 (best) to 100 (worst).
Measured: 3, 6, and 12 months follow-ups
Global improvement
Self-reported global improvement will be gathered as 7-step Likert scale as a response to question: "Compared with the beginning of the study, my wrist feels much worse - somewhat worse - little worse - no change - little better - somewhat better - much better."
Measured: 3, 6, and 12 months follow-ups
Patient Accepted Symptom State (PASS)
PASS will be assessed using the question: "Considering the current symptoms and function of your wrist, are you satisfied with the outcome?" Participants will respond with either 'yes' or 'no'.
Measured: 3, 6, and 12 months follow-ups
Health-related quality of life
Health-related quality of life is measured by EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). EQ VAS is a component of 5-level EQ-5D questionnaire. It measures patient's overall current health-related quality of life in a 20 cm visual analogue scale. The scale ranges from 100 ("the best health state you can imagine") to 0 ("the worst health you can imagine").
Measured: 3, 6, and 12 months follow-ups
Presence of the ganglion
The presence of the ganglion will be assessed through clinical examination.
Measured: 6 months follow-ups
Duration of sick leave
The duration of sick leave is measured in days.
Measured: 6 months follow-ups
Adverse events
Measured: 3, 6, and 12 months follow-ups
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Sep 2025
- Study start13 Jan 2026
- Primary completionDec 2034 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2035 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Wrist GanglionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Model description
- The trial design is multicentre, randomized, parallel group (1:1) controlled, superiority trial.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 220 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Tampere University Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Tampere University, National University Hospital, Singapore, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Oulu University Hospital, Päijät Häme Central Hospital
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07162415
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- R25038
- Acronym
- GangLion
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 22 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: On request and if current legislation allows, we will provide the anonymized data of the study.