Arthroscopy of your Wrist

An arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) is performed to diagnose and treat problems in your wrist joint. It involves examining the inside of the joint using a telescope inserted through small cuts on your skin.

The aim is to confirm exactly what the problem is and for many people the problem can be treated at the same time.

Problems inside a joint can often be diagnosed using tests such as CT scans and MRI scans. However, they do not show early damage to the surface of joints, damage to small ligaments or how bad any damage is, and you may then need an arthroscopy to treat the problem.

Various anaesthetic techniques are possible.

The operation usually takes about 20 minutes.

Your surgeon will usually make about two to four small cuts, about half a centimetre long, around the joint. They will insert a small telescope through one of the cuts so they can examine the joint. They will insert surgical instruments through the other cuts if they need to treat any problems with the joint.

You should be able to go home the same day.

The physiotherapist may give you exercises and advice to help you to recover from the operation.

It can take a few weeks to get back to normal activities.

Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.

Most people have a major improvement but it takes time for pain to lessen and movement to increase. Symptoms often come back with time.

Some complications can be serious and can even cause death.

General complications of any operation

• Pain
• Bleeding
• Infection of the surgical site (wound)
• Unsightly scarring of your skin

Specific complications of this operation

• Bleeding into the joint
• Infection in your wrist joint
• Severe pain, stiffness and loss of use of your arm and hand
• Damage to nerves around the joint
• Damage to tendons