After all non-operative options are exhausted Total Wrist Fusion or Total Wrist Replacement can be considered can be considered.
This is fairly common and result from general wear /tear and aging or secondary to trauma ie post traumatic.
Typically this presents with pain, swelling and stiffness. Sometimes the wrist feels weak and the patient struggles to carry heavy objects or load the wrist.
Treatment depends on severity of disease. In mild cases simple lifestyle modification, anti-inflammatories (both tablet and ointment) and splints might prove helpful. Steroid injections can also have a powerful effect in moderate cases. If all conservative measures fail then surgery may be appropriate including total wrist replacement or fusion. There are a range of lesser operations which are designed to maintain some movement as well as address pain.
Miss Umarji recently performed the first Total Wrist Replacement at St George’s NHS Trust
After years of pain patient Julie Richardson was delighted to be the forst patient to have a Total Wrist Replacement at St George’s London.
