Young Girl Avoids Wrist Surgery for Ganglion Cyst Through Acupuncture

Ariel Vaknin, an 11-year-old girl from Yavne, noticed a small lump on her left wrist about a year and a half ago. Initially small and inconspicuous, it gradually grew and began causing pain and discomfort while writing at school or playing basketball. Beyond the physical pain, the appearance of the lump became a social nuisance as peers constantly asked questions about it.

Her mother, Shani, stated that she had no initial understanding of the condition. After consulting a family doctor, Ariel was referred to a hand surgeon, and an ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis of a ganglion cyst—a benign swelling commonly appearing near joints or tendons. The surgeon presented two options: needle drainage, which carries a high recurrence rate, or surgical removal. Although a surgery date was scheduled, the family grew apprehensive due to the proximity of the cyst to major blood vessels.

Exploring Alternative Treatment

Faced with a daunting surgery, Shani began researching online alternatives and discovered acupuncture as a potential remedy. Seeking a non-invasive path, they turned to Maccabi Teva, where acupuncturist Moshe Yazdi treated Ariel over the course of nine sessions. According to Yazdi, traditional Chinese medicine views ganglion cysts as blockages of qi, blood, and fluids around the joint. Local and distal acupuncture was applied to stimulate the body's immune response and clear the inflammation.

Remarkably, after the fourth session, a significant reduction in the size of the lump was observed. Today, the wrist is nearly smooth, and the planned surgery has been called off. While medical literature on acupuncture for ganglion cysts remains limited, and recurrence is always a possibility, the family views the alternative path as a successful intervention that spared a young child from invasive surgery.