Medical dictionary

What is a ganglion cyst? A ganglion cyst is a benign but painful growth, usually on the hand or wrist. The pain often comes on at night, or after constant use of the hand. Ganglion cysts can vary in size, growing up to three centimetres wide. While the position of the cyst doesn’t tend to change, the size may fluctuate over time, and some go away entirely without treatment. Can

What is gender reassignment surgery? Gender reassignment surgery is any surgical procedure involved in facilitating a male-to-female (MtF) or female-to-male (FtM) transition. Gender reassignment surgery is complex and can involve a number of separate procedures, carried out over several operations.   When is gender reassignment surgery required? Surgery is generally the last s

What is gynaecomastia? Gynaecomastia, occasionally referred to as ‘man boobs’, is the medical term for enlarged male breasts. It is a common hormonal disorder that only affects males, making their breasts larger than normal due to an excess quantity of male breast tissue. It usually occurs more in teenage boys and older men. The extent of gynaecomastia symptoms varies from pe

What is a haemangioma? A haemangioma is a type of birthmark that is formed by a collection of blood vessels just under the skin. It is often referred to as a “strawberry mark” because of its reddish colour and texture. Haemangiomas can be superficial or deep. A superficial haemangioma is simply a raised red area on the surface of the skin, whereas a deep haemangioma involves swol

What is a hair transplant?Hair transplantation, sometimes known as a hair graft, is mainly a cosmetic treatment that involves restoring a head of hair using donated hairs which are implanted onto the rest of the scalp. Patients with hair loss and baldness are increasingly turning to hair transplant treatments. There are two main types of hair transplant surgery: follicular unit extraction (FU

What are hand problems? The most common hand problems include: Carpal tunnel syndrome: compression of the nerve that passes through the wrist, causing frequent numbness of the fingers, tingling and pain Injuries: including fractures, torn ligaments, and dislocations Osteoarthritis: a degenerative disease that affects joints and cartilage. The cartilage that cushions the joints breaks

What is osteoarthritis of the hand? Hand osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition, resulting in join pain, stiffness, and swelling in the hand. It most commonly occurs in the wrist, fingertips (DIP joint), middle knuckle (PIP joint), and the basilar joint (which connects the thumb and wrist). Osteoarthritis is where the cartilage that cushions the bones at the joints w

What is a hand fracture?   A hand fracture, or broken hand, affects one or more of the bones found in the hand. It occurs when the bone(s) break or crack, often as the result of a fall or through sporting activity. A fracture can be simple, involving only a few fragments of bone, or it can be more complex, involving multiple fragments. Fractures can also be closed, meaning there is no b

What are hand injuries? There are many different types of hand injuries, most of which occur due to trauma, but some also occur due to over-exertion or compression. Injuries can occur to the bones, muscles, nerves, ligaments, and skin of the hand, wrist and fingers, and different treatments are needed for different injuries. Some common types of sudden hand injury include: Breaks and frac