Wrist arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure performed to diagnose and treat problems within the wrist. Also known as keyhole surgery, arthroscopy allows Dr. Jai Sungaran to view the internal structures of the wrist using a narrow fibre optic tube with a tiny camera attached to one end. The camera transmits high-definition images in real time onto a monitor so that he can perform surgery through considerably smaller incisions than are necessary with traditional forms of wrist surgery. Patients who undergo wrist arthroscopy at our Sutherland Shire practice benefit from the greater precision afforded by the technology and a shorter, more comfortable recovery time.
If you are interested in learning more about wrist arthroscopy, or you would like to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Sungaran, we encourage you to contact Southern Hand & Wrist today. We proudly offer wrist arthroscopy to patients from throughout New South Wales, including Caringbah and South-Eastern Sydney.
When is wrist arthroscopy performed as a diagnostic procedure?
In the majority of cases, Dr. Sungaran is able to diagnose problems with the wrist through physical examination, provocative tests, and imaging tests such as x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diagnostic surgery is reserved for those occasions when patients present symptoms such as pain, stiffness, or reduced range of motion, yet no clear diagnosis can be made using these more traditional, non-invasive methods.
Wrist arthroscopy may also be performed as a diagnostic procedure when a wrist condition does not improve as expected to non-surgical therapies.
When is wrist arthroscopy performed to treat conditions of the wrist?
Arthroscopic surgery can be used to treat most conditions of the wrist, including:
- Fractures
- Chronic pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Ganglion cysts
- Arthritis
- Ligament tears and other soft tissue injuries
In addition to the fibre optic tube the actual arthroscope with its attached camera, arthroscopic surgery is performed using specialised instruments, including shavers, scopes, and probes. Arthroscopic surgery allows Dr. Sungaran to treat a variety of wrist conditions that once would have required more invasive procedures. He is able to pinpoint the damaged tissues with greater precision while lowering the risk of unnecessary trauma to adjacent healthy tissues, through incisions usually just a few millimetres in length.
What are the benefits of arthroscopic wrist surgery?
As a result of the minimally invasive nature of wrist arthroscopy, patients generally experience less post-operative discomfort, bleeding, and swelling and a faster, more comfortable recovery. They also face a lower risk of infection and other complications and side effects associated with any surgical procedure. In most cases, people who undergo wrist arthroscopy are able to return home on the day of surgery.
What are the risks of arthroscopic wrist surgery?
Although wrist arthroscopy has impressive records of safety and success, there are risks associated with any form of surgery. These include infection, internal bleeding, nerve damage, the formation of blood clots, and adverse reactions to the anaesthesia used during the procedure, which in the case of risk arthroscopy is usually but not always a general anaesthetic. When wrist arthroscopy is performed by a skilled and experienced hand and wrist surgeon such as Dr. Sungaran, serious complications are extremely rare, especially when patients diligently follow the post-surgical instructions provided to them as they heal.
Learn More about Wrist Arthroscopy
If you would like to learn more about wrist arthroscopy at our Sutherland Shire practice, with locations in Caringbah and Sydney Olympic Park, or you want to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Jai Sungaran, please contact Southern Hand & Wrist today.
