Needle puncture is one option. In this procedure, the cyst is punctured and aspirated. (Aspiration means drawing the fluid out with suction.) However, this procedure has less than a 50 percent success rate.

Another option involves excision, or removal, of the cyst and its connection to the finger joint. Patients should be aware that removing a mucous cyst may not eliminate pain if the pain is from the underlying osteoarthritis.