Wrist Surgery

The goal of wrist surgery is to minimize discomfort and restore functional use and range of motion. Some common wrist surgeries performed at Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Services include:

Wrist Fusion

A wrist fusion eliminates all movement at the wrist joint by securing the bones of the forearm to the bones in the wrist and hand. A fusion provides reliable relief of pain from wrist arthritis, but the loss of motion can prevent some normal activities.

Proximal Row Carpectomy

Proximal row carpectomy removes three of the small bones from the wrist joint. By removing the arthritic bone, pain is diminished. Because there is no fusion, motion is preserved.

Wrist Replacement

Replacement wrist surgery is performed to remove arthritis-damaged bone and replace it with a metal and a plastic implant.

Tendon Release

This is sometimes performed in the case of de Quervain’s stenosing tenosynovitis. The surgeon makes a small zig-zag incision on your wrist and then an incision in the tendon sheath to relieve the pressure on your tendon.

Wrist Fracture Surgery

Some fractures may be secured with pins to hold the fragments in place. Another option is an external fixator, a device that uses pins through the skin and a device outside the skin to pull the fragments into position. Plates and screws may be used to position the fracture properly.

Wrist Ligament Repair

Treatment may include a tendon graft, wrist joint fusion or percutaneous pinning, in which the surgeon inserts a pin through the skin without an incision.