Wrist Joint Replacement (Wrist Arthroplasty)
Wrist joint replacement surgery, also called arthroplasty, is performed when there is painful arthritis and when other alternative treatments fail to relieve pain. In this procedure, wrist joint replacement surgery treats the damaged parts of the wrist bones, which are removed and replaced with an artificial implant called a prosthesis. The replacement prosthesis is made of metal or plastic (polyethylene spacer). As a result, this helps the wrist to function normally, and the wrist becomes healthy once again.
Wrist joint replacement surgery in India is not as common as knee or hip replacement. The wrist joint consists of a combination of small bones and connects the forearm and hand. Additionally, the wrist joint is also known as the radiocarpal joint.
The wrist helps in moving the hand in various directions, such as bending, straightening, and rotating. Therefore, the wrist is a very useful part of the hand that enables us to grasp, hold, and perform everyday activities like washing, combing, typing, or more. However, in the case of a painful wrist, these activities become difficult to perform. Pain and stiffness make the wrist difficult to use.
Wrist Replacement Surgery: Causes, Treatment Options, and Benefits
Wrist replacement surgery is a procedure that treats wrist pain from arthritis when other alternative treatments fail to relieve it. Some of the non-surgical treatments include:
- Pain medication
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Wrist splints
- Restricted to some certain activities
Some of the common conditions that result in wrist pain include:
- Bone fracture injury
- Arthritis in the wrist like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Failed wrist fusion
- Osteonecrosis is a condition when bone tissue dies due to less blood supply
Better options to treat wrist arthroplasty:
- Maintain range of motion
- Reduce stiffness and swelling
- Relieve joint pain
- Regaining pain free movement in wrist, hand and fingers
- Terminate clicking, cracking grinding sounds during the movement
Understanding the procedure of wrist joint replacement surgery
- The very first step to perform surgical intervention is to give anesthesia to the patient. This helps to let the patient stay in a deep sleep state.
- Then, an incision is made over the wrist.
- Doctors remove the damaged cartilage and bone. Replace the damaged cartilage with an artificial prosthesis.
- Placing the prosthesis in the correct place and attaching it to the bone on each side of the joints and fixing it with pins, screw or bone cement.
- It is important to ensure that the prosthesis is fixed and secure in the correct place.
- Reassuring it by testing the movement of the wrist appropriately.
- Also, the healthcare specialist makes sure the tendon and nerves are back in position.
- Lastly , the incision is close and stitched. Covers the wrist in sterile bandage and splints.
Benefits of wrist replacement
Some of the common benefits associated with wrist replacement include:
- Pain relief
- Reduce stiffness and swelling in the wrist
- Better function of the wrist, hand and fingers
- Improved range of motion
Risk of wrist replacement
Wrist replacement surgery is a safe procedure and has very less chances of risk. Some of the common risks of wrist joint replacement include:
- Blood clots
- Nerve injury
- Dislocation and loosening of the prosthesis
- Infection of the wound
- Infection in the joint
Cost of Wrist joint replacement in India
The cost of wrist joint replacement in India is affordable and cheaper than in other nations. Indeed, India provides cost-effective medical care to all patients coming from other countries, without compromising the quality of treatment.
However, the total cost of the treatment may vary depending on various factors, such as the choice of hospital, the length of stay at the hospital, the expertise of the surgeon, the type of surgery, the components used in the surgery, and more.
Furthermore, India has a vast number of skilled and experienced healthcare professionals.
Summary
Wrist joint replacement surgery treats the damaged parts of the wrist bones, which are removed and replaced with an artificial implant called a prosthesis.
Wrist joint replacement surgery, also called arthroplasty, is performed when there is painful arthritis and when other alternative treatments fail to relieve pain.
The wrist joint consists of a combination of small bones and connects the forearm and hand.
