This disease is a sudden formation on the foot, which is localized, as a rule, in the area of the joint. Such a tumor causes concern and fears, but often they are groundless, since this pathology is easily cured and diagnosed as a foot hygroma.
Description
This is a rounded tumor-like formation, filled inside with a viscous transparent or yellowish liquid. Outside, the tumor is surrounded by dense connective tissue. Anatomically, it is connected to the sheath of the tendon, or joint capsule. That is why the hygroma on the foot of the foot is located next to the joint. According to the prevalence of tumors of a similar nature, this formation on the foot takes second place after the formations that are localized on the hands. The bump in most cases is formed in the wrist joint, and often it can occur on the back of the legs.
This pathological neoplasm is formed through the degeneration of normal connective tissue. As a result of such a degenerative-dystrophic process, this element begins to protrude above the surface of the skin. Experts in the study of such a formation identified two main varieties of pathological cells from which it can be formed: spindle-shaped, which create a capsule, and spherical, which are capable of producing the fluid with which this tumor fills.
There is only one way to get rid of a neoplasm - by completely removing pathological tissues, since it is almost impossible to cope with a similar problem with conservative methods or alternative treatment for foot hygroma.
Causes of occurrence
To date, medical science has not established why the formation of joint hygroma occurs. Nevertheless, doctors identify some risk factors that can lead to its formation.
Hygroma of the foot occurs, as a rule, in the following cases:
- After the inflammatory diseases of the tendons (tendinosis, tenosynovitis) or joint pathologies (arthritis).
- Excessive loads on the area of the feet, which occur most often in people of a certain profession, for example, movers, as well as athletes and people who have to stay on their feet for a long time.
- Wearing uncomfortable shoes, which is most often observed among women who prefer high-heeled shoes
- After receiving various injuries of the foot or ankle joint.
- Genetic predisposition to the occurrence of this disease.
Traumatologists emphasize that in most cases a hygroma begins to form after receiving a single injury or undergoing an increased load, which provokes microtraumatization of the joint tissue.
Symptoms of a pathological phenomenon
In the formation of foot hygroma, visual manifestations are typical, which gives specialists the opportunity to recognize a pathological condition by conducting a regular objective examination, collecting an anamnesis and familiarizing themselves with the main complaints of the patient.
At the initial stages of the disease, a small protrusion in the form of a tumor appears on the foot, slightly rising above the surface of the skin. In most cases, a single cyst is formed, however, there are also cases where multiple lesions of the human foot were observed. Since the capsule is usually located near the joint, in the later stages it begins to impede the mobility of the foot.
Tendon cyst has the following characteristic features:
- Soft and elastic structure (in some cases, it becomes hard, but this phenomenon is extremely rare).
- This neoplasm has clear boundaries.
- The size of the pathological capsule can be from a few millimeters to eight centimeters.
- The cyst is motionless, as it is tightly attached to the adjacent tendon.
- The skin over the formation in the absence of an infectious lesion has a healthy appearance and moves over the cyst, since it is not associated with it.
- Pain at rest, as a rule, is absent, however, with pressure or during physical exertion, dull or sharp pain may occur.
- When the neoplasm compresses the blood vessels, the pulse on the foot begins to slow down, the foot becomes cool and may lose sensitivity in some areas.
- Small formations do not limit the mobility of the joint, but they can interfere with wearing shoes.
Hygroma of the foot is characterized by a gradual increase in size over some time, however, there are cases when the process of formation of such a capsule and its filling with liquid takes a short period of time - several days. When the presence of anastomosis with an articular cavity is observed, an independent reduction of the neoplasm in size during rest and an increase during physical activity is possible. Self-resorption of this cyst is impossible.
Diagnosis of the disease
As a rule, a pathological formation on the foot is diagnosed very simply, but sometimes specialists may suspect other tumor processes of a malignant or benign nature, as well as associated diseases of the joints. In such cases, differential diagnostic techniques and patient examination are used.
The list of methods necessary for determining the diagnosis includes the following procedures:
- Ultrasound examination of the area in which the neoplasm is localized.
- X-ray of the foot.
- Puncture of contents from a pathological capsule.
- Computed or magnetic resonance imaging.
After examining the affected area, as well as after listening to the patient’s complaints and collecting a medical history, the doctor begins the examination and makes an accurate diagnosis, after which the appropriate treatment for foot hygroma is prescribed. The photo presented in the article clearly shows how the tumor looks.
Hygroma in a child
Children are very rarely affected by this disease. As a rule, their tumor develops in the popliteal region. Hygroma in children can form in the presence of a genetic predisposition, if this circumstance is promoted by a combination of certain certain factors. Most often it occurs among children who from an early age go in for sports.
The clinical signs of hygroma in a child are the same as in adults. When parents find such a neoplasm on the foot of their children, they need to be examined and operated on in a short time. Tumor removal in children is usually carried out under general anesthesia. What is the treatment of foot hygroma?
Methods of treatment of the disease
Treatment of this pathological phenomenon on the foot can be carried out with the help of some medications and folk remedies, however, in more difficult situations, physiological treatment and surgery are performed. Hygroma treatment methods are determined by a specialist after diagnosing a pathology in each individual case individually. When deciding on the treatment of a patient, the doctor must take into account factors such as the size of the neoplasm, its growth rate, the symptoms of the pathological process, the duration of the disease, and the location of the tumor. The degree of trauma in many respects depends on the location of the hygroma.
So, for example, a tumor located on the upper part of the foot and not having symptomatic manifestations can be cured with the help of physiotherapeutic measures and alternative methods. At the same time, such a hygroma, which is located on the sole, must be removed promptly, since there is a high probability that a person will injure her while walking and will encounter some complications. During therapeutic procedures, loads on this area of the foot should be completely eliminated. What else is the treatment of foot hygroma?
Operational Techniques
The main indications for the patient to be assigned a surgical solution to this problem are:
- The rapid increase in tumor size.
- The sudden formation of hygroma.
- Severe pain syndrome accompanying the pathological phenomenon.
- Violation of movements and mobility of the joint.
During the operation, foot hygromas, surgeons cut the skin and separate the pathological capsule from the tendons. After removal, sutures for a week are applied to the surface of the wound. Surgical manipulation of this kind is the most effective way to get rid of hygroma, however, and it does not give a full guarantee that the pathology does not recur in the future.
Conservative Therapies
In the treatment of such a pathology by traditional methods, there is a high risk that after a certain time the cyst will form again, since the capsule remains and begins to fill again with liquid contents. During conservative therapy, various dressings with ointments are applied to the affected area or pressure dressings are practiced.
Physiotherapy for this pathology
These methods are used, as a rule, in the postoperative period and are aimed at preventing the development of complications. Nevertheless, with small neoplasms, they can act as the main treatment. Patients with hygromic feet are assigned:
- Paraffin heating of the skin and tendons.
- Shock wave therapy.
- Laser stimulation.
- Electrophoresis with the use of certain medications.
- Ultrasound and magnetic therapy.
Medical practice shows that physiotherapy is not able to completely cure a hygroma, but can significantly reduce it in size. Treatment of foot hygroma with folk remedies is also carried out.
Alternative methods of treating hygroma
The use of traditional medicine gives a very insignificant effect, and such funds can be used exclusively as an addition to the surgical method. For external use, as a rule, home-made ointments, compresses and lotions based on some herbs, clay, honey and cabbage are used. With foot hygroma, folk remedies should be used only in combination.
Hygroma puncture
The most common way to get rid of hygroma is puncture, carried out using a needle and syringe, which is performed under local anesthesia. In this case, specialists pierce the capsule and pump out the liquid contents from it. After this, an antiseptic or antibacterial liquid is injected into the capsule, especially in the presence of purulent processes.
There is a modified form of removal of the foot hygroma, which is called sclerotherapy. After the fluid is pumped out of the hygroma, a special sclerosing substance is introduced into its cavity, which contributes to the subsidence and gluing of its walls, which prevents the subsequent filling of the hygroma and its relapses.
Prevention of this disease
In order to prevent the formation of hygroma, you need to protect your leg from stress and injury. Shoes should be comfortable and appropriate in size. It is also necessary to diagnose and treat inflammatory pathologies of the joints and tendons in time.
Reviews about foot hygroma
What do people say about this disease? We will examine in more detail in this matter. The observations of specialists in surgical departments, as well as people who have undergone such a pathological condition as a hygroma, reflect the essence of this problem and the causes of its occurrence. It is noted that the female half is most often affected by this disease, due to wearing uncomfortable shoes and high heels. In men, hygroma occurs less frequently, and its occurrence is most often associated with professional activity or sports injuries. Patients who left reviews about this pathology were treated, mainly by surgical methods, which are based on the removal of the pathological formation of the foot.