Because the hands and wrists are used so much in our daily lives, they can be susceptible to a variety of injuries and conditions. These can cause a range of symptoms such as pain, weakness, and reduced function, which can make life more difficult. Often when people experience wrist problems, they don’t think they’re serious and the first thing they do is try home remedies. If painful issues persist, it would be prudent to consult with one of the orthopedic specialists at OCC – Advanced Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists in Denver, Parker, or Aurora, Colorado. With a minimally invasive procedure called wrist arthroscopy, they can both diagnose and treat any painful or disabling issues.

OVERVIEW

The wrist has become the third most common joint to undergo arthroplasty after the knee and shoulder. Wrist arthroplasty has been used more due to advancements in technology and surgical techniques. It has also become more prevalent as patients and orthopedic surgeons seek less invasive options for diagnosing and treating wrist injuries and conditions. Wrist arthroplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat problems inside the wrist joint. It involves the use of a small camera called an arthroscope, which is inserted through small incisions around the wrist joint. This allows the surgeon to visualize the structures within the joint on a monitor and perform various procedures as needed. Compared to traditional open surgery, wrist arthroscopy not only results in smaller incisions, but also less soft tissue damage, less pain, fewer complications, and faster recovery time.

ABOUT THE WRIST

The wrist joint, also referred to as the radiocarpal joint, is a condyloid joint. A condyloid joint is a modified ball-and-socket joint that allows for flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction movements. One of the most complicated joints in the body the wrist contains 8 small bones (carpals), the lower end of the forearm bones (distal radius and ulna), and many connecting ligaments. The carpals provide flexibility and support, allowing for twisting objects and intricate hand movements. The ligaments connect the carpal bones and help prevent excessive movement, ensuring proper alignment and preventing injury.

WHAT IS WRIST ARTHROSCOPY?

Minimally invasive wrist arthroscopy is used as both an advanced diagnostic tool and a state-of-the-art surgical technique. Overall, the arthroscope is a sophisticated tool. It features a small camera at one end which is connected to a fiber-optic light bundle providing illumination within the joint. This light source is crucial for clear visualization during the procedure. The camera lens captures high-quality images of the joint’s interior. The images are transmitted to a high-resolution monitor, enabling the surgeon to examine the joint in detail. During the procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions (known as portals) through the skin in strategic positions around the wrist joint. These incisions are very small – less than half an inch long. The arthroscope which is approximately the size of a pencil (or even thinner in some cases) is inserted through the incisions, along with specialized tools that allow the surgeon to perform repairs, remove damaged tissue, or carry out other necessary procedures based on the findings instead of requiring a separate surgery at a later date.

SYMPTOMS OF WRIST PAIN

• Swollen fingers
• Difficulty making a first or gripping objects
• Numbness or tingling sensation in the hands
• Pain, numbness, or tingling that gets worse at night
• Sudden sharp pain in the hand
• Swelling or redness around the joint
• Warmth in a wrist joint

NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS

• Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (R.I.C.E.) This is the most commonly suggested treatment option
• Over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen can relieve pain and swelling
• Dry Needling
• Immobilization
• Massage
• Physical Therapy
• Steroid Injections
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
• Temperature regulation – applying hot or cold packs to the affected areas of the hand or wrist as directed by a physician can alleviate symptoms of some conditions, such as arthritis and carpal tunnel
• Splinting – placing the injured wrist, hand, or finger into a splint or brace keeps the injured area from moving and allows it time to rest and heal. Depending on the severity of the injury, the splint or brace may need to be worn constantly for a while or, in some cases, may only be worn during sleep

CONDITIONS WRIST ARTHROSCOPY CAN DIAGNOSE AND TREAT

Arthroscopic surgical procedures are used to treat several wrist conditions including:

• Chronic wrist pain: Arthroscopic exploratory surgery is used to diagnose the cause of chronic wrist pain when other tests do not provide a clear diagnosis. Usually, there are areas of inflammation, cartilage damage, or other findings after a wrist injury. In some cases, after the diagnosis is made, the condition can also be treated arthroscopically.
• Ganglion cysts: Ganglion cysts commonly grow from a stalk between two of the bones in the wrist. During an arthroscopic surgical treatment, the surgeon removes the stalk, which can help prevent the cysts from returning.
• Ligament/TFCC tears: Ligaments are fibrous bands of connective tissue that link two bones together and provide stability and support to the bones. The TFCC (triangular fibrocartilage complex) is a cushioning structure within the wrist. A fall on an outstretched hand can tear ligaments, the TFCC, or both, resulting in pain. During arthroscopic surgery, the surgeon can repair the tears.
• Carpal tunnel release: Carpal tunnel syndrome causes numbness and tingling in the hand, as well as pain up the arm. It is caused by pressure on the nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Pressure can build up within the tunnel for many reasons, including irritation and swelling of the tissue that covers the tendons. One of the ways to repair this area is arthroscopically. A surgeon cuts the ligament roof of the tunnel, enlarging it. This reduces pressure on the nerve and relieves symptoms.
• Help align wrist fractures.
• Treat infections at the site.
• Arthritis: Arthroscopy can be used to remove tissues inside the arthritic joint and create more space.
• Wrist fractures: Arthroscopy can be used to remove small bits of bone and help realign the bones in the wrist. 
• In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, arthroscopic wrist surgery can be used to remove excess joint lining to ease inflammation.

GETTING THE RIGHT DIAGNOSIS. GETTING THE RIGHT DOCTOR.

Due to the complexity of the wrist, it is important to choose a wrist surgeon who performs wrist arthroscopy regularly and is known for their success stories and positive results. You won’t find orthopedic specialists with more impeccable credentials than those at Advanced Orthopedics in Denver, Parker, or Aurora, Colorado. Due to the number of conditions wrist arthroscopy can treat, your surgeon needs to be able to identify and treat them all with the utmost skill. For example, while getting an MRI is considered the gold standard for a correct diagnosis of a wrist ligament or cartilage tear, MRIs, even with arthrograms, are only about 60% accurate in determining whether there is a ligament or cartilage tear in the wrist. It takes the defining skill of a trained diagnostician, not to mention a surgeon with extensive depth and breadth of experience. The surgeons at Advanced Orthopedics consistently strive to meet these standards. Expertise is essential, but so is a caring and personal attitude where every patient is treated with concern and respect. At Advanced Orthopedics, you get it all. Schedule an appointment with a wrist specialist today.