Wrist Replacement vs. Fusion
Wrist replacement surgeon Sydney
Arthritis in the wrist can cause a variety of symptoms, including pain, stiffness, and limitations on mobility. People can develop arthritis due to wear and tear on the joint with aging, a past injury to the wrist, or an inflammatory condition (like rheumatoid arthritis).
For a person with wrist arthritis, nonsurgical options are usually tried first. This generally involves physical therapy, splinting, and injections into the wrist joint. If these options aren’t successful in reducing pain and improving function, then a surgical procedure of the wrist may be considered.
There are two main surgical options that can be used to treat arthritis of the wrist – wrist fusion and total wrist replacement. How is the decision made to choose one procedure over the other?
A comparison of total wrist replacement and wrist fusion
When making the decision between total wrist replacement and wrist fusion, there are a few different factors to consider.
Wrist and Hand Function
The biggest difference in functional outcomes after these two procedures is in the range of motion of the wrist. People who have had wrist fusion cannot move the wrist at all. Some people aren’t bothered by this limitation, while others find it to be a problem. In those who have had total wrist replacement, range of motion in the wrist is preserved, and is generally better than it was before the surgery.
Some studies have shown that wrist fusion may result in better grip strength after surgery than total wrist replacement does. Both procedures improve grip strength, but fusion has been shown to cause a greater increase. However, this finding has not been consistent across studies, so it’s currently not certain that this is the case. For people who need to maintain the best possible grip strength (for occupational reasons, or because of their hobbies), this might be a consideration.
Pain Relief
Most people who choose to have surgery to address arthritis in the wrist are experiencing pain. Pain relief is often one of the main goals of the procedure, and is often the most important one. In the past, wrist fusion was considered to be a more effective method of pain relief than wrist replacement, and was more reliably able to reduce or eliminate pain after the procedure. However, newer studies have shown that both options now offer comparable outcomes in terms of pain relief.
Complication Rates
In the past, total wrist replacement had a higher complication rate than wrist fusion. However, newer generations of wrist replacement devices have changed this. Research now indicates that the complication rates are similar for wrist replacement and fusion.
It’s also important to consider the durability of the results. With wrist fusion, as long as the procedure is successful, the fusion of the bones should be permanent, and future procedures are unlikely to be necessary. With wrist replacement, older generations of artificial joints sometimes broke later on, requiring a revision procedure to replace them.
In the newer Motec wrist replacement system that Dr. Sungaran uses, the components are made of metal, which makes them extremely durable. Breakage is very unlikely, although it’s certainly wise to be prepared for the possibility that you may need a revision surgery in the future.
Wrist replacement surgeon Sydney
If you’re considering your surgical options for treating wrist arthritis, it’s best to consult a specialist in this part of the body. The anatomy of the wrist is extremely complex, and a surgeon who specialises in this type of surgery has the deep knowledge and experience required to get the best possible results.
Dr. Sungaran has extensive expertise in hand and wrist surgery. If you’d like to discuss your options for addressing wrist arthritis, please book a consultation with him. This will allow him to provide you with personalised advice, and to let you know what results you could likely expect from each of your options.
