Diagnostic wrist arthroscopy

Abstract Wrist arthroscopy has become an essential tool for the hand and upper extremity surgeon. It is useful in diagnosing and/or staging a wide range of conditions of the wrist, including cartilage injury, early arthritis, ligament injury, and triangular fibrocartilage complex tears. It can be of great benefit in evaluating wrist pain of unclear cause when imaging studies fail to elucidate the disease. In the hands of an experienced arthroscopist, it can be a more accurate diagnostic tool than studies such as magnetic resonance imaging or arthrography. The rate of complications is very low if proper attention is paid to details. Familiarity with the equipment, thorough knowledge of the anatomy, and development of a systematic approach are all critically essential for a surgeon performing arthroscopy of the wrist. The surgeon must also know when arthroscopy does not provide sufficient access to the wrist and an arthrotomy should be performed.