Anatomy
The wrist is a complex collection of joints and bones that allows us to use our hands in many ways. The small bones of the wrist (the carpal bones) connect the bones of the forearm (the radius and ulna) to the bones of the hand. Strong ligaments connect the carpal bones to each other and to the radius and ulna.
When is surgery recommended?
Wrist arthroscopy is commonly used to:
- Diagnose wrist pain or treat pain that fails to respond to non-surgical therapies
- Assess wrist sprains and reconnect damaged ligaments
- Assess and repair triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tears
- Treat wrist fractures by removing bone fragments, aligning broken bones and stabilizing them with pins, wires or screws
What is the recovery time?
Recovery time varies based on the type of injury you have and its severity. Mild to moderate wrist sprains may take several weeks to heal, while wrist fractures may take several months or longer to resolve. Arthroscopic surgery offers numerous benefits to patients, including the potential for a faster recovery and return to everyday activities.