A carpal bone is a group of eight small bones in the wrist. These bones form a joint on either side of the hand that connects to the forearm, allowing us to bend and straighten our wrist. You may surgically remove the carpal bones from the hand or wrist if they are causing too much pressure between other bones or within a joint. Carpectomy is a medical procedure used to remove a carpal bone from the hand or wrist. This procedure aims to relieve pain and restore function, especially if injury or diseases have left too much pressure between bones or within a joint. Usually, a specialist in Carpectomy in Chula Vista will recommend this treatment if you have carpal tunnel syndrome.
Who is a Candidate?
Carpectomy is a treatment option if you have chronic wrist pain despite conservative treatments. Suppose you’ve tried but can’t tolerate medication or non-surgical therapies for your carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpectomy may be an option for men and women who suffer from chronic wrist pain and can’t handle non-surgical or medication treatments. This procedure is not recommended in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, carpal fractures, and carpal dislocation.
The Procedure
This procedure is done in the hospital or an outpatient center, under general anesthesia. You can expect to stay in the hospital for at least overnight. A surgeon will make an incision on the underside of your wrist and remove one of the eight small carpal bones. Depending on which bone is removed, this surgery may be an open or arthroscopic procedure. You will feel a little bit of pressure and some pulling during the surgery, and you may experience numbness over the site for several weeks after. After your surgeon has completed your carpectomy, he will close your incision with sutures. After your procedure, you will need to wear a splint for several weeks while you recover. You may also use hand therapy after surgery to regain the strength and range of motion in your wrist.
Recovery
You will recover from this surgery in about 2 to 3 weeks. Your surgeon may recommend that you wear a splint for several days after the surgery. You may also experience some numbness over the site and pain while you heal and need ibuprofen or another type of analgesic to control your pain and swelling. With physical therapy, full range of motion and function is typically restored after carpectomy.
Risks and Complications
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks of complications associated with carpectomy. Risks may include infection, loss of sensation or motor function, nerve injury, wrist stiffness, or scar formation. One of the main risks of this surgery is that it may not provide pain relief for some patients. However, rare complications can include fractures.
In summary, a carpectomy is surgery that removes one of the eight carpal bones in the wrist. If you have chronic wrist pain after conservative treatments, your doctor may recommend this surgical procedure. This surgery takes about an hour to perform, and you will need to wear a splint for several weeks while it heals. Physical therapy is usually recommended to help you regain range of motion and function after a carpectomy.
