Fields of treatment / Orthopedy / Wrist arthroscopy
Wrist arthroscopy
Your physician has recommended you have an arthroscopic examination because you have been experiencing some pain, your joint have been instable and your motion has been limited, all of which is caused by either injury or may have another cause. The aim of the examination is to assess the scope of damage to your joint and determine what caused it. After that, the best treatment available is suggested. Arthroscopic surgery will contribute to improving your condition and speed up your treatment.
Description of the procedure
The patients are given general anaesthesia and they are asleep during the surgery. You can go home two hours after the surgery, and you should have someone drive you home. Your arm will be elevated and placed in a special holder and bandage will be put around it. One small incision will be made and a tiny camera-an arthroscope- will be inserted through it. The entire joint will be observed through the camera and the surgeon will be able to view the inside of your wrist on a screen. Other small instruments may be inserted to help with repairs and fixing the damage.
The arthroscopy may reveal other types of damage that cannot be obtained through other imaging techniques (X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound). Those may include damaged ligaments, bone fractures, synovitis and arthritis (damaged cartilage). Through arthroscopy, all such damage can be effectively treated and repaired. The damaged area can be accessed through multiple portals, enabling better view of the joint than classic open surgery. At the end of the surgery, your surgeon will cover the incision with stitches. The stitches will be covered with bandages. You will have to wear a cast, elastic bandage or a split depending on the procedure performed
After the surgery
You should keep your arm elevated to reduce swelling and pain. You can take pain relievers for a short period of time. You will have to stabilize your wrist in a splint for as long as necessary before it heals, depending on the type of damage and specific procedures performed.
