Orthopedic Wrist Surgery

Orthopedic wrist surgeries are common procedures for patients who suffer from bone, joint and muscle problems in their wrists that do not respond to non-surgical treatment methods. Many wrist surgeries are not major operations and do not require large incisions or extended periods of healing, though some are more involved.

Types

• Many wrist surgeries are minimally invasive. Surgeons can often operate on a person's wrist using an arthroscope, a small instrument with a camera on the end that magnifies the structure of the wrist. Surgeons can remove bone spurs, repair some fractures, remove pieces of bones and repair cartilage and tendons using arthroscopes or other instruments through tiny incisions in the hand or wrist.

  Patients who suffer from arthritis may require surgery to remove, fuse or replace arthritic bones and joints in the wrist. De Quervain's tendinitis causes the tendons in the wrist at the base of the thumb to tighten and swell. Surgery for this condition is sometimes necessary to open the compartment in the wrist, allowing more room for the irritated tendons. Keinbock's disease can cause bones in the wrist to die when the blood supply is interrupted. Patients with advanced stages of Kienbock's disease may require surgery to improve blood flow to the wrist and ease pressure on the bones. Other wrist problems, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and ganglion cysts, are also treated surgically in some cases.

Pre-Surgery

• Before orthopedic wrist surgery, blood tests, EKGs and X-rays are common tests before wrist surgery to make sure patients are in good physical health and unlikely to have a negative reaction to the anesthesia or the procedure itself. Surgeons advise many patients to stop or start medications before surgery, and it is important that patients follow any pre-surgery instructions carefully to avoid complications. Most patients are also advised not to eat or drink the night before surgery.

Recovery

• Recovery from wrist surgery depends on the type of surgery performed. Some patients are able to resume normal activity within a few days after minor procedures. Others take weeks or months to heal and may require extended periods of physical therapy to regain use of their wrists. Most patients receive pain medication following surgery, and the wrist is kept immobile in a splint or cast during the beginning stages of healing. Surgeons give patients detailed recovery instructions before their discharge from the hospital.

Complications

• Most wrist surgeries do not result in serious complications. As with any surgical procedure, even minimally invasive procedures carry risks. Some patients have a negative reaction to the anesthesia, which can be fatal in rare cases. Bleeding problems, infection, slow healing and damage to the blood vessels, bones and tendons in the wrist are other possible complications patients should discuss with their doctors before surgery. It is important for patients to notify their doctors or seek immediate treatment if they run a high fever after surgery or experience increasing pain, numbness, swelling, redness or drainage.

Alternatives

• Doctors try to treat most wrist problems with non-surgical methods before turning to orthopedic wrist surgery. Many patients can manage their symptoms with immobilization, activity modification or physical therapy. Over-the-counter medications to reduce pain and swelling are often helpful, and doctors often prescribe prescription-strength painkillers for moderate to severe pain. Steroid injections can help reduce inflammation and ease pain in the wrist.