Wrist Arthroscopy
Recover sooner after wrist surgery when your doctor uses arthroscopy at EvergreenHealth. This minimally invasive approach uses small incisions, leading to less pain and scarring afterward.
How Arthroscopy Works
Wrist arthroscopy uses an arthroscope—a thin tube with a light and camera. Instead of making a large incision in your wrist, our fellowship-trained hand surgeon slides the scope through one or more small incisions. The camera shows the inside of your wrist on a large monitor in the operating room. With this technology, your EvergreenHealth surgeon can diagnose and treat many wrist conditions.
Preparing for Your Procedure
You'll lie flat with your arm gently secured in the right position for the surgeon. Your care team will clean and sterilize your arm and may apply a tourniquet to limit bleeding. To prevent pain, you'll most likely receive a regional nerve block that numbs the arm. A sedative will help you relax.
Examining & Treating the Joint
Your surgeon uses the camera and light to check the ligaments, cartilage, and bones of your wrist for signs of damage. With pencil-thin tools, the surgeon then treats the problem with a procedure such as:
After Wrist Arthroscopy
Your surgeon will close the incision and inject local anesthetic to ease postsurgical pain. You'll receive a bandage and splint to protect the wrist as it heals. You can go home the same day.
Ask your surgeon what to expect during your recovery, based on your specific procedure. If your surgeon recommends rehabilitation, take part in hand therapy at EvergreenHealth to restore the full use of your joint.
My Navigator