Ligament Tears of The Wrist Question & Answer

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• Uploaded: 2012-04-24
• Duration: 164s
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http://www.handandwristinstitute.com/cartilage-tears-wrist-doctor/ - Question & Answer with Dr. John Knight regarding ligament tears of the wrist.

Transcript

First, X-rays are taken , which are normal. Then an MRI with an arthrogram, i.e., the injection of dye into the wrist joint, followed by an

MRI, reveals ligament tears in 60% of cases. If there is a ligament tear, and it is a partial tear , it can be healed by wearing a bandage for about 4-6

weeks. However, if the tear is more significant, which is usually the case, surgery may be necessary . Arthroscopic surgery for ligament tears

usually lasts about 30 minutes. If an open ligament tear is required, the procedure may take 45 minutes

or more. If the surgery is performed arthroscopically, painkillers are usually taken only for the first few days, quickly switching to

anti-inflammatory drugs. If a severe ligament tear is found , stainless steel pins are placed in the wrist joint to hold the two bones in place for

approximately 8 weeks. The cast or bandage is changed every 2 weeks, and an X-ray is done in the clinic. After 8 weeks, a

simple surgical procedure is performed again to remove the pins. Then, over the course of 3 months, a carefully planned rehabilitation protocol takes place that restores your

mobility and function. There is an 80% success rate when arthroscopic ligament surgery is performed within the first 90 days. With

each month of delay, the overall success rate decreases. If the surgery is not successful, you may develop

unbearable pain over time, and if necessary, you may need a partial wrist fusion, in which several bones in the wrist are fused

together, thereby limiting movement by about 50%.