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Wrist Arthroscopy
The arthroscope is a fiberoptic camera that Orthopaedic Surgeons use to examine the inside of joints. It has been in use for many years, primarily in the knee. Over the past ten years the arthroscope has become the surgical method of choice for many shoulder injuries as well. Recently, injuries to additional joints in the body, including the elbow, hip, ankle, and wrist have become increasingly accessible to treatment with the arthroscope.
Over the past several years, wrist arthroscopy has been developed by surgeons with special interest and expertise in hand and wrist injuries. The arthroscope is especially useful in treating certain wrist injuries, since the joint is so small and inaccessible. Previously, the wrist joint had to be opened up to repair any of its structures, and even an open wrist surgery was often unsuccessful, with stiffness, scarring, and persistent symptoms.
The wrist arthroscope is a small tube, several inches in length, but only 2 or 3 millimeters in diameter, that is inserted into the wrist joint through a small puncture wound. The inside of the joint is then seen on a large television monitor. Using specially designed equipment, the surgery is performed from inside, watching on the monitor. With the wrist joint arthroscope, small ligaments can be repaired without opening up the wrist.
Fractures can be reduced and fixed with special equipment. Ganglion cysts can be removed arthroscopically, with less stiffness, and a lower rate of recurrence, than with an open excision. Carpal Tunnel Release surgery, once done only through an open incision in the wrist, can now be performed with the arthroscope, through a quarter inch incision. Many other reconstructive techniques are being continually developed for surgery of the wrist.
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