Objective To investigate the cl inical outcome of treating dorsal wrist gangl ion with an improved surgical strategy by excising the gangl ion completely along their stalk and repairing the dorsal carpal l igaments under brachial anesthesia. Methods From March 2005 to January 2007, 34 patients with dorsal wrist gangl ion were treated and studied retrospectively. There were 14 males and 20 females, aged 25-65 years (43 years on average). The left sides were involved in 22 cases and right sides in 12 cases. Thirteen cases of relapse received excision for 1 to 4 times under local anesthesia, with amean period of 17 months (14 days to 7 years) from excision to recurrence. Twenty-one patients were first attack cases with a mean period of 11 months (15 days to 8 years) from diagnosis to excision. The size of the gangl ion ranged from 1.5 cm × 1.2 cm to 4.5 cm × 4.0 cm. Now, each surgical process was performed under brachial anesthesia, and a pneumathode tourniquet was used. In 6 patients, the stalks of gangl ion did not invade the carpal l igaments, and gangl ion was removed completely without immobil ization after operation. In 28 patients, the stalks of gangl ion invaded the carpal l igaments, gangl ion was excised completely along its stalk to the dorsal carpal structure; the l igaments were sutured directly in 16 cases and were repaired with adjacent tissue such as the wall of sheathing canal of extensor tendon in 12 cases. The wrists were immobil ised for 3 weeks. Results Primary wound heal ing was achieved in all incisions. All patients were followed up for 26-36 months with an average of 31.5 months. Only 2 cases (5.9%) recurred. The range of motion of the wrist remained normal and the symptom of the dorsal wrist was rel ieved sl ightly. Patients’ satisfaction score ranged from 60 to 100, with an average of 83.8. Conclusion The gangl ion should be excised completely together with defect repair of dorsal carpal l igament under brachial anesthesia and the wrist immobil ised for 3 weeks, the recurrence rate will be reduced greatly.