Evaluation of wrist arthroscopy outcomes in patients with chronic wrist pain

Wrist arthroscopy is an evolving diagnostic and therapeutic modality which is progressively used by Iranian surgeons. Little data is published about the procedure’s indications, outcomes, complications and prognostic factors. In following study we evaluate the outcome and complications of diagnostic and therapeutic arthroscopy in our patients. In a prospective study from September 2009 to March 2013, 100 patients entered in the study. All the patients had chronic wrist pain without any sign of improvement despite at list three months non-operative treatment and underwent diagnostic and therapeutic wrist arthroscopy. All patients were evaluated by wrist range of motion, visual analogue scale (VAS), the quick-disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (Q-DASH), and Mayo wrist functional score before and after arthroscopy. Patients were visited at 3, 6, 12 weeks intervals after surgery and every six months thereafter. The most frequent diagnoses were triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury, dorsal wrist ganglion cyst and Kienbock disease which were treated with accordant arthroscopic methods. Major and minor complications of arthroscopy and prognostic factors were evaluated. Eighty nine patients participated in long term follow-up. The follow-up duration was 19±13 months. At final fallow-up there were 28.6±9.6 degrees improvement in wrist range of motion, 5.1±3.4 reduction in VAS score (P<0.04), 37.9±30 improvement in Mayo functional wrist score (P<0.02) and 47.5±33 reduction in Q-DASH score (P=0.009). 82% of patients were satisfied with postoperative results and 16% experienced recurrence. The preoperative diagnosis was not a prognostic factor for outcome of arthroscopic treatment. The rate of postoperative complications was 31.4%, which most of them were minor and transient complications. The most frequent complication of wrist arthroscopy in our patients was transient hypoesthesia in superficial ulnar nerve territory. According to our results, wrist arthroscopy have acceptable outcome in TFCC injuries and Kienbock disease. With the ever-expanding list of indications and procedures that can be performed with wrist arthroscopy, it can be considered as an essential diagnostic and therapeutic tool for the orthopedic surgeon.