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Wrist Arthroscopy 101: Everything You Need to Know

Wrist Arthroscopy 101: Everything You Need to Know

Joints are an essential component in our bodies that allow us to freely move without pain and discomfort. As soon as an injury occurs to a joint, your overall quality of life may be affected. Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that enables orthopedic and plastic surgeons to diagnose and treat joint problems. Arthroscopy allows your surgeon to see inside of your joint without the need for a large incision that is otherwise common among traditional surgeries.

Different types of arthroscopy procedures can treat different joint and ligament concerns such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, ACL tears, and more.

How Does An Arthroscopy Procedure Work?

Arthroscopy is typically an outpatient procedure that is performed by a plastic surgeon or orthopedic surgeon. The experience of your surgery will greatly depend on the type of injury your surgeon is diagnosing and treating. Typically, your surgeon will make a tiny incision at the site of the injured joint and insert a small tube into the incision with a camera attached. As your surgeon is assessing your injury, they can treat it by:

  • Smoothing rough surfaces on the bones
  • Removing a loose piece of bone or cartilage
  • Placing bones back in their correct position
  • Removing scar tissue

After your surgeon has accurately performed the surgery, they will stitch the small incision back together.

Who Needs Arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy is a minor procedure that may be recommended by your doctor if:

  • You have inflammation in a joint
  • You have an injured joint
  • You have damaged your meniscus, cartilage, tendons, or ligaments

Arthroscopy may also be an option for individuals who do not get relief from nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy, injections such as steroid injections, or braces and splints.

What Happens After An Arthroscopy Procedure?

Arthroscopy is an outpatient procedure and you should be able to go home within a couple of hours. Depending on the treatment performed by your surgeon and the injury, they will have you follow a different recovery timeline. For recovery, expect to:

  • Avoid putting weight or pressure on the area for the directed amount of time.
  • Use crutches if the arthroscopy was performed on your hips or legs
  • Ice and elevate the area
  • Keep the incision clean and immediately report to your doctor of any signs of infection
  • Wear a sling or brace as directed by your doctor

The recovery from an arthroscopy procedure will depend once again on the injury you have, as well as the treatment performed by your plastic surgeon. However, one of the main benefits of arthroscopy is that there is a faster recovery compared to traditional surgery practices. There is also significantly less pain and scarring.

Arthroscopy Treatment Kelowna

Arthroscopic procedures are an innovative way to treat joint injuries as well as many other injuries relating to ligaments and arthritis. The procedure offers very minimal scarring due to the small incision as well as highly accurate treatments to the site of the injury thanks to the help of camera technology. If you are suffering from joint pain that never seems to go away or have been avoiding other invasive surgical options, talk to your doctor about the option to receive an arthroscopy procedure.

Okanagan Health Surgical Centre is a world-class private surgical facility providing Arthroscopy Procedures and Cosmetic Surgeries to patients in beautiful downtown Kelowna, British Columbia. The team of private surgeons will be sure to answer any questions you may have during a complimentary consultation. To book your consultation today call us at 1-250-868-9799 or Toll-Free: 1-877-505-8895 or fill out the contact form below.

FAQ

Q: How long is the recovery from an arthroscopy procedure?
A: Patients can expect soreness and swelling for the first few days after the procedure. Recovery will depend on the type of injury the patient has as well as its severity. Most patients can return to work and other regular daily tasks in a week, but a full recovery may take months.

Q: How long is an arthroscopy procedure?
A: Arthroscopy procedures last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.

Q: When will I know the results from my arthroscopy procedure?
A: Your plastic or orthopedic surgeon will review the results with you the same day as your procedure. 


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