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Overview
With how much we rely on our hands, there’s no wonder hand and wrist pain can be so disabling and frustrating. When this pain interferes with typing on your computer, spending time on your hobbies or even getting yourself ready in the morning, it’s time to seek medical advice.
Hand and Wrist Anatomy
Your hand is made up of 27 bones, including eight in the wrist (called carpals), five in the palm (called metacarpals) and 14 (called phalanges) that make up your fingers and thumb. The bones are held together by ligaments and two main sets of muscles and tendons: flexors (used to bend the thumb and fingers) that connect to the underside of the forearm, and extensors (used to straighten them out) and connect to the top of the forearm.
What are the different types of hand and wrist pain?
Hand and wrist pain has many causes. Here is a look at some of the most common causes, including those caused by injuries as well as diseases and other conditions.
Hand Arthritis
Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the joints. Symptoms include redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness and pain. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Here is a closer look at each:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand is “wear and tear” arthritis. This is the gradual breakdown of the cartilage in your hand’s joints. Also called degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis usually develops over years and often is found in patients who have had a hand injury, such as a fracture, or overuse their hands in their job or sports. The condition is most common in adults over age 50.
Common symptoms of OA are stiffness, swelling and loss of motion. OA of the hand also is characterized by bony nodules in the finger joints.
To diagnose OA, your physician will take your medical history and perform a thorough physical examination, typically including X-rays.
Treatments are aimed at relieving painful symptoms in your hand and controlling inflammation. First-line treatment for early arthritis involves conservative measures, including activity modification, splinting, heat/ice and anti-inflammatory medications. Joint injections with a cortisone preparation can provide improvement in symptoms and may be repeated three times per year.
When conservative measures no longer alleviate the pain or when deformity prevents your hand’s function, surgery is recommended. Alleviating pain is the primary reason for surgery. As a general rule, joint motion is not improved following surgery and in many cases is lessened in the pursuit of pain relief. Joints can either be removed (resection arthroplasty), fused (arthrodesis) or replaced (prosthetic arthroplasty). Advantages and disadvantages of the particular procedures differ for each joint. Your surgeon will discuss which of type of procedure is right for you. Arthritis surgery is very successful and improves the quality of life in more than 90 percent of patients.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, affects joints fairly symmetrically on both sides of the body (such as both hands). In most people, symptoms develop gradually over years, although they can appear rapidly. RA affects three to five times more women than men and often occurs between the ages of 20 and 50. The condition may be related to a combination of abnormal immunity and genetic, environmental and hormonal factors.
Over time, RA can cause cartilage to wear away and swelling in the synovium (a tissue lining the joint). In later stages, bones can rub against each other and structurally deteriorate. Over time, the joints become very painful, tender, swollen and warm to the touch. RA also often results in deformities of the hand and the destruction of joints.
To diagnose RA, your physician will take a medical history, including asking about any stiffness in the morning, examine the specific location of your pain, and look for any bumps/ nodules under the skin (rheumatoid nodules). You also will undergo X-rays and a blood test for rheumatoid factor, an antibody present in about 70 percent of people with RA.
Treatment includes medications to decrease joint pain, swelling and inflammation and hopefully prevent or minimize disease progression. Medication should be started promptly to minimize joint destruction. Treatment may also include rest and exercise, hand therapy and surgery to correct damage to the joint.
The type of treatment prescribed depends on several factors, including your age, overall health, medical history and severity of the arthritis. Depending on the degree of joint damage, when conservative measures no longer help, you may be eligible for surgery. This may include carpectomy (removing the arthritic bones), fusion (joining bones in the wrist to eliminate pain with movement) or joint replacement (removing the damaged joints and replacing them with artificial joints).
Joint replacement is most often used in those with rheumatoid arthritis involving the metacarpophalangeal joints at the base of the fingers. In these cases, individual joint replacements may improve your finger’s arc motion, making them more useful. Pain is improved as is use of the hand. However, these artificial joints do not provide the same stability afforded by a joint fusion and will, in time, wear down.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition affecting the hand, wrist and occasionally the entire upper extremity. The tunnel itself is a narrow canal at the base of the palm, defined by the bones of the wrist and the overlying transverse carpal ligament. The nine flexor tendons to the fingers and thumb, and the median nerve (which provides sensation to the fingers and thumb and strength to palm muscles) pass through the tunnel. CTS is a constellation of symptoms caused by the median nerve at the base of the palm getting compressed.
Early symptoms include numbness at night, tingling or pain in the fingers (especially the thumb, index and long fingers). As the problem worsens, symptoms occur during the day, especially while driving, brushing hair and holding the phone or a book. It also can cause weakness and individuals may occasionally drop objects, often without realizing they are losing their grip until it is too late.
CTS is diagnosed by a medical history and physical tests including looking for Tinel’s sign (tapping over the median nerve at the wrist to produce tingling in the involved areas) and a wrist flexion test or Phalen’s test (resting elbows on a table and allowing the wrist to fall forward freely, which causes symptoms in those with CTS). X-rays may be used to rule out other conditions (such as arthritis) and electrical studies (electromyography, or EMGs) may be used to examine nerve activity and determine the severity of the disease.
Treatment begins with job and activity modifications, such as keeping your wrists properly positioned (straight), not flexing them repeatedly, taking frequent breaks and performing stretching and conditioning exercises.
Night wrist splints can help prevent wrist flexion, which naturally occurs during sleep and causes symptoms. Sometimes antiinflammatory medications, either taken orally or injected into the carpal tunnel, can help diminish swelling around the median nerve and lessen symptoms. Generally, cortisone injections provide only temporary relief.
Surgery is recommended when CTS does not respond to these conservative measures or has already become severe. The goal of the outpatient surgery is to decrease pressure on the nerve by enlarging the carpal canal. Recovery time will vary depending on your age, general health, severity of CTS, and how long the symptoms have been present. Heavy activities with the affected hand are restricted for four to six weeks. The great majority of patients who undergo carpal tunnel release experience virtually complete relief of all symptoms.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Cubital tunnel syndrome (also known as ulnar nerve entrapment) is a musculoskeletal disorder caused by too much pressure being placed on the ulnar nerve. This nerve is one of three major nerves in your arm. When this nerve runs past your elbow, it passes through a tunnel of tissue (called the cubital tunnel) and past the bony bump in your elbow (called the medial epicondyle). When this nerve is subject to long periods of pressure due to leaning or sleeping on your elbow, keeping your elbow bent for long periods, or hitting your “funny bone,” it can cause a burning sensation or numbness in the elbow, arm, hand or fingers.
The syndrome is diagnosed by a medical history and physical exam to check for nerve irritation, strength and feeling in your arm and fingers, whether the nerve slips out of position, and how your upper body movements affect your symptoms. Tests such as X-rays (to look for bone spurs or an area of bone that is compressing the nerve), electromyography (EMG – to evaluate your muscles’ electrical activity) or nerve conduction studies also may be needed.
Treatment may include changing the way you use your elbow, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, bracing and hand therapy exercises. Surgery to alter the position of the nerve may be recommended if conservative treatments fail. Your surgeon will discuss which type of surgical procedure is right for you. The amount of time it takes for symptoms to resolve varies and it may take up to 18 months for sensation and strength to return to the arm, hand and wrist.
Skier’s Thumb
Skier’s thumb is a type of sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in the thumb. It is common when the thumb is bent in an extreme position during a fall – whether in skiing, basketball or other similar activity.
Symptoms include pain, bruising and swelling. Sprains are diagnosed by a medical history, physical examination and imaging tests such as X-rays, MRI or CT scans.
Treatment includes rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medication. Wearing a splint to immobilize the joint may be needed for about a week. This may cause some stiffness, so gentle stretching and strengthening are recommended. If the UCL is severely torn, surgery may be needed to reconnect it to the bone. Hand therapy exercises are then needed to regain strength and motion. Recovery typically takes about two months.
Instability can occur if the UCL becomes too loose and stretched out due to frequent sprains. This can cause continued sprains, or even a tendon tear or bone fracture. This instability is accompanied by a feeling that the joint is unstable or weak. It is important to properly treat sprains in an effort to prevent instability. Reinjury is common if a return to normal activities begins too soon. Chronic instability may require surgery to tighten or reconstruct the loose ligament.
Hand Tendon Injuries
Injuries to the tendons (bands of connective tissue that connect muscle to bone) can occur due to a deep cut on the palm side of the hand or fingers, or a sports injury in which the tendon is pulled from the bone (common from jamming a finger in football and wrestling). This type of injury may affect the flexor tendons (used to bend the fingers) or extensor tendons (used to straighten the fingers and thumb). This type of injury does not easily heal because tendons act like a rubber band when cut, with the ends retracting away from one another.
Symptoms of this type of tendon injury include pain and problems moving the hand or fingers, or with severe cuts, a complete inability to move the affected area. The condition is diagnosed by a physical examination to examine mobility and strength. An X-ray also may be needed to determine if there is any additional bone damage from the injury or foreign body.
Splinting may be effective for partial tears (most often from sports-related injuries), but surgery is needed to repair full tears (usually from cuts) because tendons cannot heal unless the ends of the injured segments are touching. Your physician will discuss what type of surgical procedure, typically performed on an outpatient basis, is right for you. Recovery generally takes about two months, followed by hand therapy to restore mobility.
Trigger Finger & Thumb
These painful tendon conditions cause the fingers or thumb to catch or “lock,” most often in a bent position. The problem often stems from inflammation of tendons located within a protective covering (called the tendon sheath). When this happens, bending the finger or thumb causes the swollen tendon to catch on one of the thickenings in the sheath (called a pulley) as it glides through the sheath.
One of the first symptoms may be soreness at the base of the finger or thumb. The most common symptom is a painful clicking or snapping when attempting to flex or extend the affected finger or thumb. In some cases, the finger or thumb that is affected locks in a flexed position, or in an extended position as the condition becomes more serious, and must be gently manipulated with the other hand in order to eliminate the locking. Usually the most severe symptoms occur upon awakening in the morning. The symptoms tend to improve during the day.
Trigger finger and thumb may be caused by repetitive or forceful use of these digits. For example, repeatedly wringing a washcloth or using hand tools, industrial equipment or a musical instrument commonly lead to the condition. Rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes also may play a contributing role. But in some cases, no specific cause can be found.
Most cases respond to conservative medical treatment, including restricting activities that aggravate the condition, splinting and anti-inflammatory medications. If the condition doesn’t respond to conservative measures or recurs, surgery may be recommended to release the pulley and restore full movement.
Surgery is performed on an outpatient basis usually under local anesthesia, with or without accompanying sedation. Through a 2-cm incision at the base of the digit, the tendon sheath and pulley are exposed. The pulley is cut, relieving the tightness and allowing the tendon to move freely. Heavier activity is restricted for about three weeks and full recovery may take several months. Hand therapy exercises are recommended to help improve stiffness.
Dupuytren’s Disease
Dupuytren’s disease is a condition that produces cords, bumps or nodules on the palm – most commonly near the last crease in the palm, close to the base of the finger. The most common fingers involved are the ring and small fingers. The beginning of the condition often is unnoticed, but occasionally the nodules may be mildly tender.
As the disease progresses, other nodules may develop together with small indentations or “pits.” With further advancement, the disease spreads from the nodules to the fingers. These extensions are called cords and can cause the fingers to bend into the palm, making it impossible for them to be fully straightened. The disease usually progresses slowly, although the rate can vary. In rare situations, rapid progression can occur over a period of weeks or months.
Symptoms include difficulty with activities that require the fingers to be straight – such as clapping, putting on gloves and inserting hands into pockets. Dupuytren’s disease is believed to be hereditary, although only about one patient out of four identifies a relative who has the disease. The disease is more common in men than women and usually occurs after age 40. Up to 20 percent of individuals have a severe form of Dupuytren’s disease characterized by nodules and cords on the bottom of their feet (known as Lederhosen), thickening over the tops of the finger joints (known as knuckle pads), curvature of the penis (Peyronie’s disease) or early onset of the disease.
Treatment typically involves surgery; however, it may worsen mild cases and is not recommended for patients with early palmar nodules. Surgery to remove the abnormal tissue from the palm and fingers can be effective in more advanced cases. The procedure removes the abnormal tissue from the palm and fingers. Rangeof-motion exercises will be needed and night splints are typically worn for several months.
Cleveland Clinic also offers treatment with XIAFLEX® (collagenase clostridium histolyticum) for adults with Dupuytren’s contracture when a cord can be felt. This recently FDA-approved, nonsurgical treatment option uses a mixture of enzymes that are injected directly into a Dupuytren’s cord. These enzymes help break down the cord, allowing the finger to straighten.
Needle Aponeurotomy
Cleveland Clinic offers a simple, outpatient procedure for Dupuytren’s disease called needle aponeurotomy (NA) to effectively treat contracted cords.
The patient is given a local anesthetic, and a small hypodermic needle is used to divide and sever the contracting bands in the diseased areas of the palm and fingers. NA is most effective for treatment of the palm, but also can be used in some cases of finger contracture.
NA has many benefits over traditional surgery. Rather than removing the abnormal tissue, NA weakens and releases the contracture, avoiding the extra surgical trauma associated with surgically removing it, including possible skin grafts. NA is an outpatient office procedure that takes less than an hour to perform. Patients benefit from rapid healing and are able to return to normal activity after 48 hours, with no need for therapy. This is in stark contrast to surgical treatment, which often requires weeks of hand therapy and rehabilitation.
NA patients also require little or no pain medication afterwards. Complications that may occur from Dupuytren’s surgery appear to be less likely with NA, probably due to the less traumatic nature of the procedure. In the event the disease returns, which happens in about 50 percent of patients, NA can be repeated many times, if necessary.
Your surgeon will determine whether NA is right for your Dupuytren’s disease.
Hand & Finger Fractures
A break, or fracture, of the hand or fingers is commonly caused by falling on an outstretched hand, a sports injury or car accident.
Symptoms may include pain, swelling, bruising, deformity, loss of motion and/or numbness. A suspected fracture should be immobilized and examined by a physician. X-rays or CT scans may be taken to confirm and determine the severity of the injury as well as any other related injuries.
Treatment includes pain medications and splinting, followed by hand therapy exercises. Surgery may be needed for complex fractures. The type of procedure used and recovery will depend on the severity of the injury. Hand therapy exercises will help restore range of motion.
Wrist Arthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the wrist is “wear and tear” arthritis. This is the gradual breakdown of the cartilage in the wrist’s joints. Also called degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis usually develops over years and often is found in patients who have had a wrist injury, such as a fracture or ligament tear, or overuse their wrists in their job or sports. The condition is most common in adults over age 50.
In OA of the wrist, it becomes difficult to bend the wrist, since the wrist becomes increasingly tender and swollen. Over time, patients with OA of the wrist have significant loss of function of the hand, including the diminished grip strength.
To diagnose OA, your physician will take your medical history and perform a thorough physical examination, including X-rays.
Treatments are aimed at relieving painful symptoms in the wrist and controlling inflammation. First-line treatment for early OA involves conservative measures, including activity modification, splinting, heat/ice and anti-inflammatory medications. Joint injections with a cortisone preparation can provide improvement in symptoms and may be repeated three to four times per year at most.
When conservative measures no longer alleviate the pain or when deformity prevents your wrist’s function, surgery is recommended. Alleviating pain is the primary reason for surgery. As a general rule, joint motion is not improved following surgery and in many cases is lessened in the pursuit of pain relief. Joints can either be removed (resection arthroplasty), or fused (arthrodesis). Advantages and disadvantages of the particular procedures differ for each joint. Your surgeon will discuss which of type of procedure is right for you. Arthritis surgery is very successful and improves the quality of life in more than 90 percent of patients.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, affects joints on both sides of the body (such as both wrists). In most people, symptoms develop gradually over years, although they can appear rapidly. RA affects three to five times more women than men and often occurs between the ages of 20 and 50. The condition may be related to a combination of abnormal immunity and genetic, environmental and hormonal factors.
Over time, RA can cause cartilage to wear away and swelling in the synovium (a tissue lining the wrist joints). In later stages, bones can rub against each other. This causes the joints to become very painful, tender, swollen and warm to the touch. RA often causes degeneration of the radius and ulna in the forearm. This can cause torn tendons or bent wrists.
To diagnose RA in your wrists, your physician will take a medical history, including asking about any stiffness in the morning, examine the specific location of your pain, and look for any bumps/nodules under the skin (rheumatoid nodules). You also will undergo X-rays and a blood test for rheumatoid factor, an antibody present in about 70 percent of people with RA.
Treatment includes medications to decrease joint pain, swelling and inflammation and hopefully prevent or minimize disease progression. It also may include rest and exercise, hand therapy and surgery to correct damage to the joint. The type of treatment prescribed depends on several factors, including your age, overall health, medical history and severity of the arthritis.
Depending on the degree of joint damage, when conservative measures no longer help, you may be eligible for surgery, such as carpectomy (removing the arthritic bones), or arthrodesis (fusion or joining bones in the wrist to eliminate pain with movement).
Wrist Sprains & Instability
An injury to a ligament (a band of tissue that connects bones) is called a sprain. Sprains in the wrist commonly occur with a fall on an outstretched hand.
Signs of a sprain include tenderness/pain, bruising, a popping sensation in the wrist and swelling.
Sprains are diagnosed by a medical history, physical examination and imaging tests such as X-rays or MRI.
Treatment includes rest, ice and antiinflammatory medication. Wearing a splint to immobilize the wrist during exertive activity is recommended. This may cause some stiffness, so gentle stretching and strengthening are recommended. If the ligament is torn, surgery may be needed very soon to reconnect it to the bone. Hand therapy exercises are needed to regain strength and motion. Recovery of minor sprains typically takes about two months.
Instability is a related condition that occurs when the wrist’s ligaments become too loose and stretched out due to a major tear or due to frequent sprains. This instability is accompanied by a feeling that the joint is unstable or weak.
It is important to properly treat sprains in an effort to prevent instability. Reinjury is common if a return to normal activities begins too soon. Chronic instability may require surgery to tighten or replace the loose ligaments in the wrist and at times arthrodesis (joint fusion) is required.
Wrist Tendon Injuries
Injuries to the tendons (bands of connective tissue that connect muscle to bone) can occur due to blunt or sharp trauma. A sharp cutting injury usually affects the flexor tendons (used to bend the fingers). This type of injury does not heal on its own because tendons act like a rubber band when cut, with the ends snapping away from one another.
Symptoms of this type of tendon injury include pain and problems moving the wrist, or with severe cuts, a complete inability to move the affected area. The condition is diagnosed by a physical examination to examine mobility and strength. An X-ray also may be needed to determine if there is any additional bone damage from the injury.
Splinting may be effective for partial tears (most often from sports-related injuries), but surgery is needed to repair full tears (usually from cuts) because tendons cannot heal unless the ends of the injured segments are touching. Your physician will discuss what type of surgical approach, typically performed on an outpatient basis, is right for you. Recovery generally takes about two-four months, including hand therapy to restore mobility.
Wrist Fractures
A break, or fracture, of the wrist is one of the most common broken bones. The break, usually caused by a fall on an outstretched hand, can occur in any of the wrist’s eight small bones or the arm’s two long bones (the ulna and radius). The radius is the most commonly fractured.
Symptoms may include pain, swelling, bruising, deformity, loss of motion and/or numbness. A suspected fracture should be immobilized and examined by a physician. X-rays, MRI or CT scans may be taken to confirm and determine the severity of the injury as well as any other related injuries.
Treatment includes pain medication and splinting for several weeks, followed by hand therapy exercises. Surgery may be needed for complex fractures to set the bone and/or stabilize it. The type of procedure used and recovery will depend on the severity of the injury.
Scaphoid Fractures
A break, or fracture, of the scaphoid (the smallest bone in your wrist) is the most common type of wrist fracture. The scaphoid is situated on the thumb side of your wrist, where your wrist bends. Scaphoid fractures are commonly caused by falling on an outstretched hand, sports injuries or car accidents.
Symptoms may include pain, swelling at the thumb side of the wrist, bruising, deformity, loss of motion and/or numbness. A suspected fracture should be immobilized and examined by a physician. X-rays, MRI or CT scans may be taken to confirm and determine the severity of the injury as well as any other related injuries.
Treatment depends on the location of the break in the scaphoid. Breaks close to the thumb usually heal quicker and require wearing a cast on the arm and hand (which includes the thumb). Breaks that occur in the middle of the scaphoid or closer to the forearm take longer to heal and require a cast on the arm (sometimes above the elbow) and hand, including the thumb. Surgery inserting screws and/or wires to hold the bone in place until it heals may be needed if the fracture is the in the middle of the scaphoid. A bone graft (a piece of bone taken from your arm or hip) may be needed to help heal the bone if it is broken in several places. Your surgeon will discuss the type of procedure needed with you. A cast or splint will need to be worn for up to six months following surgery. Hand therapy exercises will help restore range of motion and strength.
Scaphoid Nonunions
A scaphoid nonunion is a break, or fracture, of the wrist’s scaphoid bone that does not heal because the area is not receiving enough blood supply. This can cause the bone to die (called osteonecrosis).
A nonunion may be suspected either when a known scaphoid fracture does not heal within the normal period of time after casting (several months) or in patients who never realized they had a fracture but then developed problems with their wrist, such as pain, swelling or loss of motion.
X-rays, MRI or CT scans may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment may include using a bone graft to encourage healing. The bone graft (piece of bone) may be taken from your arm or your pelvis. In cases involving advanced arthritis or persistent nonunion, wrist reconstruction may be recommended. This may include removing and fusing wrist bones to improve pain and maintain function. Your surgeon will discuss the type of procedure needed with you. The wrist will be immobilized until it finally heals and then hand therapy exercises will be needed to restore function.
De Quervain’s Disease
De Quervain’s disease is a painful inflammation of specific tendons that extend the thumb. The swollen tendons and their coverings cause friction within the narrow tunnel or sheath through which they pass.
The result is pain along the back of the thumb, directly over the two thumb tendons – the extensor pollicis longus brevis and the abductor. The condition can occur gradually or suddenly. In either case, the pain may travel into the thumb or forearm. Thumb motion may be difficult and painful, particularly when pinching or grasping objects or moving the wrist like a hammering motion. Some people also experience swelling and pain on the side of the wrist at the base of the thumb. Some people also feel pain if direct pressure is applied to the area.
Overuse, a direct trauma or injuries to the thumb, repetitive grasping and certain inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can all trigger the disease. It is also seen during the last trimester of pregnancy and in mothers of nursing children. Gardening, racquet sports and various workplace tasks can aggravate the condition.
The test most frequently used to diagnose de Quervain’s disease is the Finkelstein test. The test is done by making a fist with your thumb placed in your palm. When the wrist is suddenly bent to the little finger side (as in casting a fishing pole), the swollen tendons are pulled through the tight space. If this maneuver is very painful, it is likely that you have de Quervain’s disease. Arthritis and other forms of tendonitis may also cause symptoms in this area.
Treatments are aimed at alleviating pain and improving mobility and function. They include splinting (for four to six weeks), ice and antiinflammatory medications. If de Quervain’s disease does not respond to conservative medical treatment, cortisone injection or surgery may be recommended. The outpatient surgery is usually done under local anesthesia and surgically releases the tight sheath, eliminating the friction that worsens the inflammation, thus restoring the tendons’ smooth gliding capability. Recovery time varies, depending on your age, general health and how long the symptoms have been present. Light use of the thumb is possible immediately with a progressive return of range of motion and strength over the next few weeks. Rehabilitation involves range of motion exercises to prevent stiffness and swelling and to gradually restore motion. Next, progressive strengthening gradually improves function.
Kienböck’s Disease
Kienböck’s disease occurs when the blood supply to one of small bones in the hand near the wrist (called the lunate) is interrupted. This causes the bone to die, a condition known as osteonecrosis. The cause of the disease is unknown, although trauma to the wrist may be a factor.
Symptoms are very similar to those of a sprained wrist: pain and swelling, stiffness and decreased strength and mobility. The disease is diagnosed through X-rays, MRI or CT scans to detect bone death.
Treatment options depend on the severity of the disease (ranging from pain and swelling to deteriorated bone). They may include nonsurgical techniques, such as splinting or casting and anti-inflammatory drugs. For disease that has progressed, surgery may be recommended. There are many possible procedures that may relieve pressure, restore blood flow, even the length of bones in the wrist joint, remove the diseased lunate or fuse wrist bones to reduce pain and maintain function. Your surgeon will discuss which option is right for you. Sometimes, due to the progressive nature of the disease, several operations may be needed over time.
Wrist Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat problems in the wrist joint. It is done using an instrument called an arthroscope.
The arthroscope has a light source and a camera. During wrist arthroscopy, the surgeon shines a light into the joint, and with the help of the camera, an image of the wrist joint is then viewed on a TV monitor. By seeing the wrist joint through the arthroscope, the surgeon does not need to make a large incision. Sterile fluid can be used to expand the joint, which increases visibility in the joint area and makes it easier for the surgeon to work.
The surgeon administers a local anesthetic during surgery to numb the area being examined. A regional or general anesthetic will be used for better pain control during surgery. The regional anesthetic is the preferred anesthesia method. Then, usually small incisions (approximately a quarter of an inch long) are made in the wrist. An arthroscope is inserted, and the surgeon looks inside the wrist. Other instruments may be used during surgery to cut, shave, remove particles in the joint, or repair tissue. Arthroscopy can help repair wrist fractures and ligament tears or to perform carpal tunnel release.
Following arthroscopy, the wrist must be kept elevated for several days. Hand therapy exercises will be needed to restore motion and strength.
Appointments
To make an appointment with a hand and wrist specialist, call:
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- Dover Appointments: 330.343.3335
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At the Orthopaedic & Rheumatologic Institute, we offer patients the most advanced treatments for any type of hand and wrist pain. Our institute uses a multidisciplinary team approach, bringing all of the experts that you need together under one roof, including orthopaedic physicians and surgeons, rheumatologists and hand therapists.
Our experienced team works closely together and helps develop an individualized plan to best meet your needs. You can take comfort in knowing that our physicians remain the experts at the forefront of developing new approaches to treating hand and wrist pain.
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