What is Wrist Arthroscopy ?
Wrist arthroscopy is a procedure to evaluate and repair damage to your wrist. The wrist is a complex joint made up of eight bones. There are also many connections between these bones (ligaments). You may need this procedure to:
- Diagnose wrist pain or numbness. Nerves trapped between wrist bones or tendons (carpal tunnel syndrome) may be freed up to relieve pressure.
- Remove a growth from your wrist (ganglion).
- Repair a broken bone. Broken pieces of bone may be placed back into a normal position. They may be held in place with pins, wires, or screws.
- Repair a torn ligament.
The procedure is done using a pencil-sized surgical telescope (arthroscope). The arthroscope has a tiny light and camera on the end that projects an image onto a television screen. Your surgeon uses this image to guide the surgery.
Tell a health care provider about:
- Any allergies you have.
- All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
- Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
- Any blood disorders you have.
- Any surgeries you have had.
- Any medical conditions you have.
What are the risks?
Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems can occur and include:
- Bleeding.
- Infection.
- Nerve injury.
- Wrist weakness or stiffness.
What happens before the procedure?
- Ask
your health care provider about:
- Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
- Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood.Do nottake these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider asks you not to.
- Follow your health care provider’s instructions about eating or drinking before the procedure. If you are going to be given medicine that makes you fall asleep (general anesthetic), do noteat or drink anything after midnight on the night before the procedure or as directed by your health care provider.
- Plan to have someone take you home after the procedure.
What happens during the procedure?
- An IV tube will be put in a vein in your arm. Medicine will flow directly into your body through this tube. You may be given antibiotics and medicine for pain.
- You
will be given one of the following:
- A medicine that numbs the area (local anesthetic).
- A medicine that makes you fall asleep (general anesthetic).
- Your wrist will be cleaned with a germ-killing solution (antiseptic) and covered with germ-free (sterile) covers.
- Your surgeon will make a small cut (incision) on the back of your wrist. Your surgeon will insert the arthroscope into the incision.
- If repairs are needed, you may have 1–2 more small incisions made on the back of your wrist. Your surgeon will use these incisions to pass surgical instruments to the area that needs to be repaired.
- The incisions will be closed with small stitches, and a bandage (dressing) will be applied.
- You may have a wrist splint placed on your wrist.
What happens after the procedure?
- You may need to stay in a recovery area for a few hours. If you had a general anesthetic, you will stay there until it wears off.
- It is normal to have pain. You will get pain medicine through your IV.
- You can go home after your surgeon says your IV tube can be taken out.
Wrist Arthroscopy, Care After
Refer to this sheet in the next few weeks. These instructions provide you with information on caring for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. Your treatment has been planned according to current medical practices, but problems sometimes occur. Call your health care provider if you have any problems or questions after your procedure.
What can I expect after the procedure?
After your procedure, it is typical to have the following:
- Pain and swelling at the site of the incisions.
- Stiffness in your wrist. This should gradually decrease over time. Your health care provider may recommend physical therapy to help improve this.
- Nausea, vomiting, or constipation. These symptoms can result from taking pain medicine after surgery.
- Clear or red drainage from the incision sites. This is normal for a few days after surgery.
- Fatigue.
Follow these instructions at home:
- Take medicine only as directed by your health care provider.
- Rest for a few days.
- Keep your wrist raised above the level of your heart while you are resting.
- Ice
may help ease pain and swelling.
- Place ice in a plastic bag.
- Put a towel between your skin or splint and the bag.
- Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
- Do nottake baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves.
- Keep your bandage (dressing) and splint dry. Pat the area dry with a clean towel. Do notrub the incision as this may cause bleeding.
- There
are many different ways to close and cover an incision, including
stitches, skin glue, and adhesive strips. Follow your health care
provider’s instructions on:
- Incision care.
- Dressing changes and removal.
- Incision closure removal.
- Keep all follow-up visits as directed by your health care provider. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
You have a fever.
Get help right away if:
- You have drainage, redness, swelling, or increasing pain at the incision site.
- You notice a bad smell coming from the incision site or dressing.
- Your incision site breaks open after your stitches or tape has been removed.
