Wrist surgery
What is wrist surgery?
There are many types of surgical procedures that can be performed on the wrist, depending on the injury or condition being treated. These include both open and minimally invasive surgery on the bones, tendons, ligaments, and nerves in the wrist. As is often the case, surgery is usually only recommended by your doctor in serious situations, or when more conservative treatment has not worked.
Why would you have wrist surgery?
There are many things that can happen to your wrist that can warrant surgery. Generally, these are either injuries to the bones, ligaments, or nerves, or serious medical conditions that cause pain or affect the patient’s quality of life. Surgery may be recommended for the following:
- Broken/fractured wrist – some breaks and fractures may require procedures such as a wrist arthroscopy, while others may require stabilisation via a bone graft. Open fractures that breach the skin may require surgery immediately.
- Arthritis – while there is no cure, some surgical interventions, such as wrist fusions can reduce pain and increase strength.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome – surgery can release the pressure on the trapped median nerve.
In most cases, the doctor will only advise surgery if other treatment options have failed.
What does wrist surgery involve?
Different types of wrist surgery involve different things:
- Surgical fusion – by fusing bones together, it can make the wrist stronger and reduce pain, for example, caused by arthritis. However, it severely reduces movement at the joint.
- Bone graft – new bone material taken from elsewhere in the patient’s body may be needed to stabilise a fracture.
- Metal implants, such as pins, a plate, or an external fixator frame can be fixed to broken bones to stabilise them and help them to heal in the optimal way.
- Arthroscopic wrist surgery is a minimally invasive procedure using a small camera called an arthroscope to guide the surgeon in using tiny surgical instruments inserted into the wrist via a small incision.
- Ligament surgery
- Tendon transfer
- Surgery for carpal tunnel can involve splitting the transverse carpal ligament, removing cysts, cutting tendons, and removing old scar tissue to open up the corridor inside the wrist and release the pressure on the median nerve.


Scapholunate ligament injuries and how to treat them
By Ms Anna Moon
2022-08-15
When a person falls over they can damage the scapholunate ligament which restricts the use of the wrist. Find out more about how these injuries can be treated. See more


Wrist joint replacement: when to have surgery for arthritis
By Mr Stephen Lipscombe
2022-08-12
If you have exhausted all non-surgical treatment options for your wrist arthritis, you may want to discuss with your specialist whether you are a suitable candidate for wrist joint replacement surgery as an effective way to relieve pain. We spoke to one of our wrist surgeons Dr Stephen Lipscombe all about the procedure and just how effective it can be. See more


Carpal tunnel syndrome FAQs answered by a specialist
By Mr Andrew Logan
2022-08-11
Carpal tunnel syndrome involves a sensation of pins and needles and numbness in the affected hand and wrist. If you think you have carpal tunnel syndrome or have been diagnosed with it, you'll likely have some questions. Mr Andrew Logan, an orthopaedic surgeon and hand and wrist specialist, provides you with answers to frequently asked questions. See more


Wrist injuries: open surgery vs. arthroscopy
By Mr Andrew Logan
2022-08-06
Are you currently experiencing persistent pain in your wrist? It is most likely that surgery is required in cases of fractures or traumatic injury. Here, one of our expert orthopaedic surgeons Mr Andrew Logan explains whether open surgery or wrist arthroscopy would be the better treatment for a wrist injury. See more
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Miss Tanaya Sarkhel
Orthopaedic surgeryExpert in:
- Hand surgery
- Wrist surgery
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Arthroplasty
- Wrist arthroscopy
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Mr Andrew Fitzgerald
Orthopaedic surgeryExpert in:
- Spinal surgery
- Hand surgery
- Wrist surgery
- Elbow
- Carpal tunnel surgery
- Hand arthritis
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Mr Omar Haddo
Orthopaedic surgeryExpert in:
- Shoulder surgery
- Rotator cuff injury
- Elbow Pain
- Wrist surgery
- Hand injury
- Frozen shoulder
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Mr Andrew Logan
Orthopaedic surgeryExpert in:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Wrist surgery
- Trigger finger
- Hand arthritis
- Hand surgery
-
Mr Philip Mathew
Orthopaedic surgeryExpert in:
- Wrist arthroscopy
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Hand arthritis
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Wrist surgery
- Hand fracture
- See all

Capital Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
Capital Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
164 Cromwell Rd
No existe teléfono en el centro.
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Surrey Orthopaedic Clinic
Surrey Orthopaedic Clinic
Prime Health Weybridge, Horizon Business Village No 10 & 11, 1 Brooklands Road, Weybridge KT13 0TJ
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Pinnacle Global Healthcare
Pinnacle Global Healthcare
13 Lichfield Road
No existe teléfono en el centro.
By using the telephone number provided by TOP DOCTORS, you automatically agree to let us use your phone number for statistical and commercial purposes. For further information, read our Privacy Policy
Top Doctors
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Capital Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
164 Cromwell Rd, West LondonExpert in:
- Minimal access surgery (keyhole surgery)
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Robotic Surgery
- Shoulder and elbow
- Foot and ankle
- Knee
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Surrey Orthopaedic Clinic
Prime Health Weybridge, Horizon Business Village No 10 & 11, 1 Brooklands Road, Weybridge KT13 0TJ, GuildfordExpert in:
- Foot and ankle
- Hand and wrist
- Hip
- Knee
- Shoulder and elbow
- Spine
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Pinnacle Global Healthcare
13 Lichfield Road, StaffordExpert in:
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Diagnostics
- Pain management
- Physiotherapy
- Sports Medicine
- Regenerative Medicine
- See all