A ganglion cyst (also known as a bible bump) is a swelling that often appears on or around joints and tendons in the hand or foot. It looks like a sac of liquid (cyst). Inside the cyst is a thick, sticky, clear, colorless, jellylike material. Depending on the size, cysts may feel firm or spongy.

Ganglion cysts arise spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause, but presumably reflect a variation in normal joint or tendon sheath function. Cysts near joints are connected to the joint and the leading theory is that a type of check valve forms that allows fluid out of the joint, but not back in. The cyst contains clear fluid similar to, but thicker than normal synovial fluid.

Fungal infections can affect your fingernails as well as the toenails, but, since your toenails grow more slowly, toenail fungus is more difficult to treat. It occurs most often on your big or small toe, but it may occur on any toe.

We can treat ganglion cysts, either through aspiration, or drawing the fluid in the cyst out with a needle and injecting anti-inflammatory medication or through the use of surgery.