Wrist Surgery – When Nothing Else Works

When the damage being administered to the hand joint as a result of arthritis is severe and not responding to other less invasive remedies, wrist surgery may be required.

Surgery is one of the last options and usually not needed when combating arthritis, but in some cases it does become a necessary course of action.

While wrist fusion can provide relief from pain, it eliminates movement of the joint and thus compromises the hand’s ability to perform usual tasks. The operation locks the bones of the firearm to bones in the wrist and hand. Recovery will involve a patient becoming acquainted with new limitations and finding means to work around them. This can be a difficult adjustment and many patients say they never get used to the consequences. Again, this is one of the last treatment options and is considered only when the discomfort and pain associated with the condition are so severe as to be unbearable.

In replacement surgery, damaged bone within the wrist is removed and replaced with metal and plastic implants. The outcome of this operation is less predictable than some other forms of wrist surgery. This unpredictability makes the procedure less attractive and thus it is not widely used. However, the general opinion seems to be that as technology advances, this surgery will become more common. Knee and hip replacements are being conducted with much greater success today than they were initially.

Proximal row carpectomy is an operation that removes three small bones from the wrist when they are affected by arthritis. Taking away the arthritic bone will decrease pain. Unlike with fusion surgery, mobility is not eliminated, making recovery more about healing than accepting new limitations. Unfortunately, this procedure is not an option with all forms of arthritis.

A doctor can provide more details on all these treatment options and help you make an informed decision as to what treatment to pursue.