Jeremy Ruskin - New Journal of Hand Surgery Publication

At Central Jersey Hand Surgery, we are proud to offer both surgical and nonsurgical treatment of wrist arthritis. Arthritis occurs from loss of the cartilage that normally lines our joints. The cartilage provides a surface that allows the bones in a joint to move smoothly against one another. When arthritis occurs in the wrist joint it can present with some of the following symptoms:

• Pain in the wrist that may radiate into the forearm or hand
• Decreased motion of the wrist which can make it difficult to use the hand
• Weakness of the hand
• A catching or grinding sensation
• Swelling of the wrist

There are many types of arthritis, the most common being osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear and tear of the joints over many years of use. Other types of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune condition that affects the entire body) and post-traumatic arthritis, as would occur after a fracture or dislocation. Finally, there is a type of arthritis specific to the wrist joint, called SLAC wrist. It is seen in people who have a old torn ligament in their wrist (and may not have been aware of that injury) and then develop arthritis many years later.

Luckily, there are multiple treatment options available for wrist arthritis. The first treatment options are nonsurgical and include:

• Activity modification (stopping the activities that make arthritis pain worse)
• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen
• Corticosteroid injections
• Splinting
• PRP injection

If these treatment modalities do not work, one may consider a partial fusion of the wrist joint, proximal row carpectomy or wrist denervation.

If you think wrist arthritis is causing your wrist pain, or if you have any wrist pain, please make an appointment with the specialists at Central Jersey Hand Surgery, and we will gladly provide you with a full evaluation.

Author

Gary Pess, MD Medical Director of Central Jersey Hand Surgery