RESEARCH - New surgical option for wrist arthritis

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New Surgical Option For Wrist Arthritis

ScienceDaily (Feb. 16, 2009) — Breaking a fall, such as a tumble on

the sidewalk, with your hands and wrists is everyone's natural reflex.

But, if you fall hard enough, you'll often fracture your radius bone,

or even one of the smaller wrist bones and wrist ligaments. Left

untreated, these injuries could lead to disabling wrist arthritis.

For patients who develop wrist arthritis, a new surgical option known

as OCRPRC (OsteoChondral Resurfacing in Proximal Row Carpectomy) is

available at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical

Center, where it is offered by one of the orthopedic surgeons who

originally developed and described the technique -- Dr. Tang.

His research shows that the procedure reduces pain and improves hand

function.

" I often see patients who had a wrist injury in the past who either

did not seek medical attention or whose original injury was not

diagnosed. As with most things in medicine, the earlier a diagnosis is

made, the better the outcome. So if you continue to have pain after a

month, you should make an appointment to see a hand surgeon for an

evaluation, " says Dr. Tang, who is an orthopedic hand surgeon at

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center and

assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Columbia University

College of Physicians and Surgeons.

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Read the whole article here:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090213172055.htm

Not an MD