Arthroscopic wrist surgery, or arthroscopy, is a surgical procedure specialists use to diagnose and treat many common wrist conditions and injuries.
If you’re dealing with chronic wrist pain and non-surgical treatments haven’t helped, surgery might be a good option.
Read on to learn more about arthroscopic wrist surgery, which conditions it can help treat, and what to expect during and after surgery.
What to Expect With Arthroscopic Wrist Surgery
In arthroscopy, the surgeon uses a small instrument called an arthroscope.
The arthroscope allows them to see inside the wrist joint without the need for a large incision. This means less of the patient’s muscles and tissues will be disrupted during surgery.
During arthroscopic wrist surgery, the surgeon will make a small incision (one-half inch or smaller) through the skin around the joint. They then insert the arthroscope, which has a light and tiny camera that captures three-dimensional images of the joint. Those images are projected onto a monitor for the doctor to watch as they move it within the joint.
During wrist arthroscopy, other tools like probes, forceps, knives, and shavers are used through small minimally-invasive incisions to fix problems they discover during arthroscopic wrist surgery.
During a routine arthroscopic wrist surgery, the hand and arm are numbed under regional anesthesia. Two or more small incisions will be made on the back of the wrist during the procedure.
After arthroscopic wrist surgery, your surgeon will stitch the incisions closed and apply a bandage. In some cases, they may have you use a splint.
Conditions Treated by Arthroscopic Wrist Surgery
If you have chronic wrist pain that has continued even after trying nonsurgical treatments, arthroscopic wrist surgery may be a helpful next step to diagnose and treat the source of the pain.
The procedure can relieve pain related to several conditions, including:
- Inflammation or Cartilage Damage. Exploratory arthroscopic wrist surgery can be used to pinpoint and treat the cause of chronic pain after a wrist injury.
- Wrist Fracture. Wrist arthroscopy can remove broken bone fragments and stabilize the bones with pins, wires, or screws. A wrist surgeon can also use it to obtain correct fragment alignment if your fracture involves the joint.
- Ganglion Cysts. The surgeon will remove the sac and the cyst’s base (or stalk) during cyst excision to prevent a recurrence.
- Ligament/TFCC Tears. A fall on the hand can tear the ligaments or triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC), resulting in pain, instability, weakness, or a clicking sensation. A wrist surgeon can repair these tears during arthroscopic wrist surgery.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Increased pressure in the carpal tunnel results in compression of the median nerve. To repair it, a surgeon will perform an endoscopic wrist procedure.
Recovery After Arthroscopic Wrist Surgery
In almost all cases, you will be able to go home after arthroscopic wrist surgery and won’t need to stay in the hospital.
You can expect to experience some soreness or swelling at the incision site. Severe complications after wrist arthroscopy are rare but could include infection, nerve damage, or excessive swelling or bleeding.
Although pain after arthroscopic wrist surgery is typically mild, a wrist specialist may prescribe pain medications. Keeping your wrist elevated for a few days will reduce pain and swelling, and keeping the dressings clean and dry will minimize the risk of infection.
Splints may be used to protect any ligament repairs if performed at the time of the arthroscopic procedure.
As you recover from arthroscopic wrist surgery, your doctor may recommend a program of hand therapy to regain strength, reduce discomfort, and increase the range of motion to your fingers and hand.
Trust the Innovative Wrist Surgeons at IHTSC
Wrist pain shouldn’t keep you from enjoying everyday life. The experienced surgeons at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center will work with you to create the best-customized care plan, using non-surgical techniques and state-of-the-art surgical approaches, such as arthroscopic wrist surgery.
We treat every wrist injury and disorder—even the most complex conditions—and will provide you with complete care. Our world-renowned group of hand surgeons, advanced practice providers, and prominent hand therapists will help you every step of the way.
Whether you’re experiencing pain from a fracture, carpal tunnel syndrome, mommy thumb, or some other condition, our team can help.
Request an appointment online or call our office at (317) 597-1896.
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