Wrist Arthroscopy in Napa, CA

If you experience chronic wrist pain, have a fracture or ligament tear in the wrist, or have carpal tunnel or ganglion cysts, you may need wrist arthroscopy. This surgical procedure, performed at Precision Surgery Center of Napa Valley, is a minimally invasive option used to diagnose and treat a variety of issues within the wrist, often within the same appointment. Many providers recommend this surgical option over other alternatives as it only requires a small incision and should not hinder the use of the hand afterward. If you have wrist pain, contact our Napa, CA surgery center to schedule a consultation. Our orthopedic surgeons can help diagnose and treat your wrist pain so you can get back to completing everyday activities with greater ease.

Prior to your procedure, we will use anesthesia to numb your hand and arm. Wrist arthroscopy is performed using a very small fiber-optic camera called an arthroscope. This device is about the size of a pencil but has a lens, camera, and light, which are used to help determine the cause of your pain. To perform the assessment, we will make a tiny incision in your wrist and use the arthroscope to identify any conditions. From there, we can utilize that information to create a treatment plan or may perform a surgical procedure at that time. Some common treatments include:

• Wrist fracture: If we determine you have a fractured wrist, we may remove the fragments and align the bone, then stabilize the wrist so it can properly heal.
• Ganglion cysts: These cysts can often be removed during arthroscopy.
• Ligament tears: These injuries can often be treated by suturing the tear during an arthroscopic procedure.
• Chronic wrist pain: In some cases, the cause of wrist pain can be treated during wrist arthroscopy.

How long do you have to be off work after wrist arthroscopy?
The answer to this question will depend on a few variables, including what kind of work you do. We will go over what to expect after your procedure in detail before you leave our office; however, generally, you can expect to be off for 1 – 2 weeks if you work an office job and 3 – 4 weeks if you do manual labor.

What sorts of things can I not do after wrist arthroscopy?
After your procedure, you should wear the cast or brace we provide and do your best not to overuse your wrist. You should not exercise or perform strenuous activity for at least two weeks unless otherwise noted, and you should not drive for at least a week or until approved by your doctor. Additionally, we will send you home with a list of dos and don'ts during your healing process.

How should I sleep when recovering from wrist arthroscopy?
You should try to sleep on your back while recovering to avoid putting pressure on your wrist. We also suggest that you sleep with your arm straightened out rather than bent, as this will keep your median nerve from becoming compressed.

What sort of complications are involved with wrist arthroscopy?
While complications are unlikely, they do occasionally occur. While we take every precaution we can, some risks of wrist arthroscopy include infection, nerve injuries, swelling, and bleeding. Again, these complications are very unlikely. If you have any additional questions or concerns about what to expect before, during, or after your procedure, feel free to ask any of our team members.

Wrist pain can affect your life in many ways. It can make it difficult to conduct daily tasks such as brushing your teeth, opening jars, and more. At Precision Surgery Center of Napa Valley, our orthopedic surgeons perform minimally invasive wrist arthroscopy to diagnose and treat some wrist injuries, including ligament tears, ganglion cysts, and minor fractures, among others. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact our Napa, CA team today.