What is the reason for the hard bumps on the finger joints

The finger joints are the connecting points between each finger. If there is any problem with the finger joints, it will have a great impact on the flexibility of the fingers. Many friends are puzzled by the bumps on their finger joints and are not sure what the reason is.

Bumps on joints are usually caused by ganglion cysts.

1. General symptoms

Ganglion cysts can occur at any age, but are more common in young and middle-aged people, and more common in women than in men. The cysts are slow growing, round, and usually no larger than 2 cm in diameter. There are also sudden discoverers. A few may disappear on their own or grow again. In some cases, apart from local swelling, there is no conscious discomfort and sometimes mild tenderness. In most cases, there is local soreness or discomfort, which affects activities.

2. Local symptoms

During the examination, a round mass with a smooth appearance and clear boundaries can be felt. The surface skin can be pushed and there is no adhesion. Most cysts have high tension and are firm lumps, while a few are soft but all have a cystic feeling. The cyst has a fixed base and little movement. Ultrasound examination can help determine the nature of the mass.

(1) Ganglion cysts of the wrist mostly occur on the dorsal side of the wrist, with a few occurring on the palm side. The most common site is the dorsal joint capsule of the wrist joint on the radial side of the common extensor tendon, followed by the radial flexor carpi tendon and the abductor pollicis longus tendon. Cysts may also develop in the flexor tendon sheath within the carpal tunnel, compressing the median nerve and inducing carpal tunnel syndrome. A few ganglion cysts may occur on the flexor tendon sheath of the fingers beyond the metacarpophalangeal joint. They are the size of a grain of rice and as hard as cartilage.

(2) Ganglion cysts of the foot and ankle are most common in the dorsalis pedis, which usually originate from the tendon sheath of the extensor digitorum longus tendon lateral to the dorsalis pedis artery. Ganglion cysts in the tarsal tunnel can compress the tibial nerve and are one of the causes of tarsal tunnel syndrome.