Role of Wrist Arthroscopy in Traumatic Wrist Conditions

Wrist arthroscopy is now a popular diagnostic tool as well as an advanced treatment tool for wrist disorders, which includes traumatic and degenerative conditions. We also achieved technological innovations along with advances in anatomical understanding and surgical techniques.[1] However, we still do not know whether wrist arthroscopy is a gold standard for diagnosis on wrist disorders, and the best treatment option on individual pathology of the wrist, such as peripheral tear of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) or scapholunate ligament (SLL) injury. There are many experts' opinion papers, in which there should be a bias. Survey of questionnaire to experts worldwide is the best way to answer these questions.

This issue includes the “Editor's Pick” of “The Current Role of Arthroscopy in Traumatic Wrist Injuries: An Expert Survey” described by Drs. d'Ailly, Mulders, Coert, and Schep. This survey analyzed answers to the multiple questionnaires about wrist arthroscopic examinations and treatments to the members of the International Wrist Arthroscopic Society that includes famous wrist arthroscopic surgeons worldwide. The survey concludes that the outcomes of wrist arthroscopy strongly depend on surgeons' experience and that wrist arthroscopy is better than magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing TFCC and SLL injuries. No agreement was reached on the preferred treatment of any type of TFCC or SLL injury. The latter suggests that there is no consensus on many arthroscopic treatments for wrist disorders and that excellent prospective comparative study on this should be necessary.

Interesting wrist papers such as the ulnar styloid malunion, carpal tunnel release in distal radius fracture, SLL, capsular shrinkage, four-dimensional computed tomography study on the wrist, lunate fracture morphology in Kienbock's disease, as well as interesting case reports are included in this issue. Don't miss it.

Publication History

Article published online:
22 May 2023

• Reference

• 1 Nakamura T, Cheong Ho P, Atzei A, Corella F, Haugstvedt JR. Revolutions in arthroscopic wrist surgeries. J Hand Surg Eur Vol 2022; 47 (01) 52-64