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Wrist

Wrist problems grouped by theme — carpal tunnel, tendon problems, fractures, ligament injuries, arthritis and ganglions — with each condition beside the operation that treats it.

Understanding your wrist

How your wrist works Wrist anatomy – understanding the radius, ulna, and carpal bones is key to understanding wrist function. Open → Wrist Arthroscopy Diagnostic and therapeutic wrist arthroscopy — what it is, when it's used, and recovery. Open →

Carpal tunnel & nerve compression

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome causes hand numbness, tingling, and weakness—diagnosis and treatment options explained. Open → Carpal Tunnel Release Carpal tunnel release surgery relieves median nerve compression—when it’s needed and what to expect. Open →

Tendon problems

De Quervain's Tenosynovitis Patient-facing topic on De Quervain's tenosynovitis (first dorsal compartment) — diagnosis, conservative management, and indications for de Quervain's release. Open → De Quervain's Release De Quervain’s release surgery widens the tendon sheath to relieve pain from thumb tendon inflammation. Open → ECU Tendinopathy and Snapping ECU Open → Intersection Syndrome An overuse tendon problem of the back of the forearm, often confused with de Quervain's — its causes, and how rest, splinting or injection settle it. Open →

Fractures

Distal Radius Fracture Distal radius fractures — assessment, casting, and indications for surgical fixation. Open → Distal Radius ORIF Open reduction and volar plate fixation of the distal radius — operation, recovery, rehabilitation. Open → Distal Radius Malunion (and Corrective Osteotomy) When a wrist fracture heals in a poor position — the problems it causes and how a corrective osteotomy realigns the bone. Open → Scaphoid Fracture Scaphoid fractures — recognition, the high non-union risk, casting and percutaneous/open fixation. Open → Scaphoid Fixation Percutaneous and open compression-screw fixation of scaphoid fractures. Open →

Ligament & TFCC injuries

Wrist Ligament Injuries Wrist ligament injuries—common causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options (conservative vs surgery). Open → Scapholunate Ligament Injury A tear of the key ligament linking two wrist bones — how it is diagnosed, why it matters, and the repair or reconstruction options. Open → TFCC Injury TFCC injuries — pain on the ulnar side of the wrist, often with clicking, and treatment options. Open → Ulnar-Sided Wrist Pain and Ulnar Impaction Pain on the little-finger side of the wrist from the ulna grinding against the wrist bones, and how shortening it relieves the pressure. Open → Distal Radioulnar Joint Surgery Open →

Arthritis & salvage surgery

Wrist Osteoarthritis Wrist osteoarthritis — understanding symptoms, non-surgical options, and when wrist replacement might be considered. Open → SLAC and SNAC Wrist SLAC/SNAC wrist – understanding pain from arthritis at the wrist, often after injury. Open → Kienböck's Disease Kienböck’s disease — progressive wrist pain from lunate avascular necrosis; diagnosis and treatment options. Open → Partial Wrist Fusion Patient-facing topic for four-corner and capitolunate (two-corner) fusion of the wrist — joint-preserving alternative to total wrist fusion that retains some bending motion. Open → Total Wrist Fusion Wrist fusion permanently joins wrist bones to relieve pain from arthritis or injury. Open → Proximal Row Carpectomy A wrist salvage operation for an arthritic wrist (SLAC/SNAC) that keeps useful movement — how it works, recovery, and how it compares with fusion. Open →

Ganglions

Wrist Ganglia Wrist ganglia are common, fluid-filled lumps – often painless – and this page covers observation, aspiration, and excision. Open → Wrist Ganglion Excision Ganglion excision — when to consider surgery, arthroscopic vs open approaches, and expected recovery. Open →

Recovery and rehabilitation

Blood Thinners Around Surgery How anticoagulants and antiplatelets work, and why the timing of stopping each before surgery differs — platelet turnover, half-lives and clot risk. Open → Cast and splint care at home Looking after a plaster or splint at home — keeping it dry, elevation, keeping joints moving, and the urgent signs of a too-tight cast. Open → Constipation and gut care after surgery Why constipation is common after surgery (especially with strong painkillers) and how to prevent and manage it. Open → Daily life after hand, wrist or elbow surgery Keeping a hand or wrist dressing dry, elevation to control swelling, and one-handed living after hand, wrist or elbow surgery. Open → Daily life after shoulder surgery Washing, dressing, sleeping and managing day-to-day with the operated arm in a sling after shoulder surgery. Open → Driving After Shoulder and Arm Surgery: When Is It Safe and Legal? After most shoulder surgery, including rotator cuff repair, you usually cannot drive for about six weeks, and not while your arm is in a sling. When it is safe and legal to get back to the wheel after hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder surgery. Open → Eating well for healing Everyday food to support recovery after surgery — protein, energy, healing vitamins, and preventing constipation. Open → Fasting Before Surgery: What You Can Eat and Drink, and Why Why you must stop eating before an anaesthetic, when you can still sip water, and what can happen if you do not fast. The clear fasting rules that keep your stomach empty and your lungs safe during surgery. Open → Flying and travel after surgery Clot risk, cast tightness at altitude, fitness to fly and the practicalities of travelling after upper-limb surgery. Open → Hand therapy basics What to expect from hand therapy, how often you'll go, and what good rehab looks like. Open → Heat vs Ice When ice helps, when heat helps, and how to use either safely on the upper limb. Open → Is my wound infected? How to tell normal healing from a wound infection after surgery — the warning signs and when to seek help. Open → Looking after your wound Dressings, showering, and signs of infection after upper-limb surgery. Open → Managing pain after surgery What pain to expect, how to use pain relief well, and when to call. Open → Mind, Stress and Recovery How stress, low mood, anxiety and worry about pain affect recovery and surgical outcomes — and what helps. Open → Preparing for Surgery General checklist for the days before upper-limb surgery — fasting, what to bring, medications. Open → Preventing Blood Clots After Surgery Reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis after upper-limb surgery — mobilisation, hydration, medication. Open → Returning to sport Phased return to sport after upper-limb surgery, and when contact sport is safe again. Open → Returning to work When you can return to desk, light, and heavy work after upper-limb surgery. Open → Scar Management Massage, silicone, sun protection and the 12-month timeline for surgical scars to soften and fade. Open → Sleep, Pain and Recovery How sleep and pain affect each other, why surgery and shoulder problems disturb sleep, and what helps you rest and recover. Open → Swelling and elevation after surgery Why a hand or arm swells after surgery, how elevation and gentle movement control it, and when swelling is a warning sign. Open → The day of your surgery What to expect on the day of day-case upper-limb surgery, from arrival and meeting the team to waking up and going home. Open → Wearing and Sleeping in an Arm Sling How to sleep in an arm sling, get the sling position right, and look after it after shoulder, elbow or wrist surgery, including whether to keep the sling on overnight. Open → Your shoulder nerve block The nerve block we use for shoulder surgery — how it numbs your arm, why it controls pain so well, and what to expect as it wears off. Open → Your wound check and stitch removal What happens at the post-op wound check, dissolvable vs removable stitches, what removal feels like, and when to seek help sooner. Open →

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