ORTHOPEDICS/HAND & WRIST/WRIST CONDITIONS
Arthritic Wrist Joint/ Surgical Therapy Alternatives
The junction that attaches the two forearm bones (the radius and ulna) with the group of eight small bones at the base of the hand (the carpal bones) is called the wrist joint.
Similar to other joints in the body, the wrist can be affected by arthritis, causing joint pain and inflammation.
Different arthritis kinds can affect the wrist joint, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Wrist arthritis therapy most frequently starts with classic non-surgical simple measures, and when these measures fail to provide relief, there may be surgical alternatives.
Non-Surgical Therapy
Wrist arthritis therapy like most of the other hand damages almost starts with simple measures.
Ice or heat applying, oral medications and cortisone injections are the most common steps effectuated.
Wrist bandages and braces may frequently be very helpful for wrist arthritis; physical therapy may also help providing relief of painful signs.
Sometimes with wrist arthritis, modifying the way we manage activities and trying nonaggressive steps, most people can manage wrist arthritis without undergoing a surgical process.
However, in case these above nonsurgical therapy fail to alleviate pain appropriately, further alternatives may be considered including:.
Wrist Fusion Surgery
When serious wrist arthritis is occurring a wrist fusion is a therapy alternative.
Wrist Fusion (called a “limited fusion”) is performed in some conditions, where the arthritis is restricted to a small space of the joint.
The alternative becomes a “total wrist fusion” when the damage is more widespread, expressly when the arthritis involves the forearm bones ends.
In this case (total wrist fusion), a large plate and metal screws are inserted across the wrist joint. The wrist will never curve anymore, but in people with serious arthritis, the main objective is pain relief.
Wrist Switching
A wrist joint can be switched, similar to how a knee or hip switching is performed: the joint is switched with metal and plastic implants that allow joint motion the between the forearm and hand.
A wrist switching advantage is that, (unlike a fusion), patients will be able to improve some wrist movements.
Its disadvantage is that the implants inserted are not shaped to withstand important forces.
Carpectomy
A carpectomy is a surgical process performed to remove the wrist joint small bones.
The removal of the small bone at the thumb base, is one of the most frequent carpectomy kind called the trapezium.
When the wrist arthritis is more extensive, a surgery called a proximal row carpectomy (or PRC) removes three of the small wrist bones to facilitate removing the wrist worn out joints.
The proximal row carpectomy is an alternative advised to people who necessitate wrist motion.
In addition, a carpectomy may be a better alternative for people who cannot the fusion option risks, such as smokers who have a high chance of complications (nonunion with fusion surgery).
Surgery Consequences
The consequences of a wrist arthritis surgery are commonly dependent on the choice of the best surgical therapy for each patient separately.
In addition, the wrist mobility is variable, depending on the chosen surgical alternative.