Wrist Arthroscopy
What Is Wrist Arthroscopy and When Is It Used?
Wrist arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a small camera inserted through tiny incisions to directly visualize and treat problems inside the wrist joint — used both to diagnose unclear wrist pain and to treat a range of conditions, typically with less tissue disruption and a faster recovery than traditional open surgery.
When It’s Used
Wrist arthroscopy is used to evaluate and treat conditions such as unexplained chronic wrist pain, ligament tears (including the TFCC, a key stabilizing structure on the pinky side of the wrist), certain wrist fractures requiring precise joint alignment, ganglion cysts, and some cases of wrist arthritis where damaged tissue can be addressed arthroscopically.
Why arthroscopy over open surgery:
Because it's performed through small portals rather than a large incision, arthroscopy typically causes less soft tissue trauma, which can mean less postoperative pain, a lower infection risk, and a faster initial recovery — while still allowing direct visualization of joint structures that can be difficult to fully assess with imaging alone.
What to Expect
The procedure is typically done as outpatient surgery. Recovery time varies significantly depending on what's found and treated during the procedure — a purely diagnostic arthroscopy has a much quicker recovery than one that includes ligament repair or fracture fixation. A splint or brace is common afterward, sometimes followed by hand therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is wrist arthroscopy painful?
Postoperative discomfort is generally less than with open surgery, given the smaller incisions, though this varies with what's treated during the procedure.
How long is recovery after wrist arthroscopy?
This depends heavily on what's addressed — a diagnostic-only procedure may allow return to light activity within days, while ligament repair or fracture treatment requires a longer, more structured recovery.