Wrist Arthritis & Reconstructive Options
Wrist arthritis may develop gradually over time or occur following previous injury, instability, ligament damage, or fracture.
Unlike larger joints such as the hip or knee, the wrist consists of multiple small joints moving in a coordinated way. Because of this complexity, arthritis patterns vary significantly between patients.
Common causes include:
- SLAC wrist (scapholunate advanced collapse)
- SNAC wrist (scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse)
- Post-traumatic arthritis
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Longstanding instability
- Previous fractures
Symptoms may include:
- Pain with loading
- Reduced movement
- Grip weakness
- Stiffness
- Clicking
- Reduced confidence using the wrist
Not all arthritis requires surgery. Many patients remain manageable with splinting, injections, activity modification, and therapy.
When surgery becomes appropriate, treatment options may include:
- Arthroscopy
- Denervation procedures
- Proximal row carpectomy (PRC)
- Partial wrist fusion
- Tendon procedures
- Reconstructive surgery
- Salvage procedures
The aim is to balance pain relief, movement preservation, strength, durability, and long-term function.
Does wrist arthritis always require fusion?
No. Many patients can be managed successfully without fusion surgery. In selected cases, motion-preserving procedures such as arthroscopy, denervation, proximal row carpectomy, or partial fusion may provide good pain relief while maintaining useful movement.