According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the wrist is the third most common joint to undergo arthroscopy, after the knee and shoulder. Injuries to the wrist and wrist pain are common today, and often related to sports and recreational activities, work-related conditions, degenerative conditions, and accidents. Wrist arthroscopy is the gold standard in the diagnosis and treatment of wrist problems when performed by a wrist arthroscopy specialist.
A wrist arthroscopy specialist uses arthroscopy (a small camera attached to a narrow tube inserted in the skin with tiny incisions) to diagnose and treat wrist problems with less pain and stiffness, and faster recovery, than open wrist surgery. The surgery is usually performed with a general anesthetic.
Wrist Anatomy makes wrist arthroscopy challenging
The wrist is a complex joint with eight tiny bones, many small joints and ligaments that work together to provide hand and wrist movement. This anatomy makes this surgery complex. The success of wrist arthroscopy requires a specialist with manual dexterity and 3-D spatial skills, and a skilled operating room team.
Wrist arthroscopy is a major advancement in treatment of the wrist because the small instruments and magnifying camera allow the surgeon to maneuver in these delicate areas.
At South County Orthopedic Specialists, our team of highly trained orthopedic specialists, physician assistants and physical therapists help patients restore motion and quality of life with compassion and state of the art techniques and equipment.
Wrist arthroscopy is performed for patients with a wrist injury or when the wrist is painful, clicking or popping, or swollen, all indications of an internal issue. Arthroscopy is recommended when conservative measures have failed to eliminate the problem.
Wrist arthroscopy can treat carpal tunnel syndrome, ganglion cysts, inflammatory arthritis and injuries to the cartilage and ligaments. Depending on the procedure performed, recovery can vary from weeks to months.
Why a specialist?
Because the wrist is a unique area full of bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, skin and blood vessels. A wrist specialist understands the delicacy of this surgery, because they are fellowship trained in the treatment of wrist and hand problems.
At South County Orthopedic Specialists in Orange County we are honored to have outstanding hand and wrist specialists who also specialize in arthroscopic procedures.
Dr. Lonnie Moskow’s focus is on surgery of the hand and upper extremities, including microvascular surgery. He completed a fellowship in hand and microvascular surgery at Sydney Hospital Hand Center, a world-renowned center for hand surgery located in Sydney, Australia.
Dr. Kyle Coker is fellowship trained in surgery of the hand and upper extremities, as well as microsurgery. He was fellowship trained at The Joseph Boyes Foundation for research in Hand Surgery in Los Angeles, CA.
South County Orthopedic Specialists has carefully cultivated a dedicated team of physicians who have achieved outstanding success in their specialties. This enables us to provide you with a superior level of assessment, surgical and non-surgical treatment and rehabilitation, so that all your orthopedic and sports medicine needs are met.
When you need an orthopedic specialist in Orange County California, South County Orthopedic Specialists are here to serve you.
