Wrist arthroscopy
Wrist pain can affect your movement, strength and ability to use your hand, particularly when caused by an injury or damage within the joint.
Specialist expertise
Our wrist and hand consultants use their experience and clinical knowledge to understand your symptoms, assess your wrist and recommend the most appropriate treatment for you.
Minimally invasive treatment
Where appropriate, our specialists use minimally invasive techniques such as wrist arthroscopy to diagnose and treat problems while limiting disruption to the surrounding tissues.
Personalised rehabilitation
Your recovery plan will be tailored to your procedure, condition and individual goals, helping you gradually restore movement, strength and confidence in using your wrist.
What is wrist arthroscopy?
Wrist arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to look inside the wrist joint and diagnose or treat a range of conditions.
How is wrist arthroscopy performed?
Wrist arthroscopy is usually performed as a day-case procedure under a general anaesthetic.
Your surgeon will usually make two small incisions in the wrist. One allows the arthroscope to be inserted into the joint, while the other allows surgical instruments to be introduced to treat the problem.
Depending on your condition, arthroscopy may sometimes be combined with another procedure, such as tendon repair.
Because the procedure uses small incisions and does not require muscles or tendons to be cut, recovery may be quicker than with conventional open surgery.
What are the benefits of wrist arthroscopy?
Your consultant will explain whether arthroscopy is suitable for your condition and what you can expect from the procedure.
Potential benefits include:
- Smaller incisions and scars
- Less disruption to surrounding tissues
- Less bleeding during surgery
- A shorter hospital stay, as the procedure is usually performed as a day case
- Potentially shorter healing and rehabilitation times
Wrist arthroscopy is not suitable for everyone. In some cases, your surgeon may need to use open surgery if arthroscopy is not appropriate or if the procedure cannot be completed safely.
What can I expect after surgery?
Your wrist may be swollen and uncomfortable during the first few days after surgery. Keeping your wrist raised above your heart can help reduce swelling, and your specialist may recommend applying ice wrapped in a towel.
Your specialist will also provide guidance on caring for your wrist and may give you gentle exercises to help restore movement, flexibility and strength.
You should keep your bandaged wrist completely dry for the first two weeks. You can shower using a waterproof cover over the dressing. Once the wounds have healed, you can usually shower normally, gently dabbing the area dry afterwards.
Recovery goals after Wrist arthroscopy
Phase 1
Managing pain and swelling Protecting the wrist while it heals Keeping the wound clean and dry Beginning gentle exercises when appropriate
As healing progresses, rehabilitation aims to:
Restore wrist movement and flexibility Improve strength and control Increase confidence using your hand and wrist Gradually return to everyday activities
As your wrist continues to recover, rehabilitation focuses on:
Building strength for work, exercise and everyday activities Restoring wrist function Returning to sport and higher levels of activity where appropriate Supporting a safe and confident return to your usual routine
Working with Hand and Wrist professionals and teams
Our hand and wrist specialists support professional athletes, sports teams, active individuals and people whose work places high demands on their hands and wrists. Working closely with radiologists, physiotherapists and the wider multidisciplinary team, they provide coordinated care from diagnosis through to rehabilitation, helping each person return safely to sport, work or everyday activities.
The same specialist expertise and collaborative approach are available to every patient, whatever your activity level or recovery goals.
Our Experts - Leaders in Hand and Wrist treatment
How to pay
We offer flexible options depending on how you choose to access care at Fortius. Whichever option you choose, we’ll help make the process clear and straightforward from the start.
Private medical insurance
If your care is covered by private medical insurance, we’ll usually invoice your insurer directly. Please check your policy in advance and request an authorisation code if your insurer requires one. You’ll be responsible for paying any policy excess or costs that aren’t covered by your insurance.
Paying for yourself
You don’t need private medical insurance to access care at Fortius. If you’re paying for your own treatment, our team will explain the costs clearly and provide a personalised quote before you decide whether to go ahead.
Find a clinic near you
Fortius Clinic City
Our City Clinic is conveniently located between Bank and Monument stations, within the historic and financial heart of London. At our modern, two-floor facility we have nine consulting rooms, spacious waiting areas, well equipped treatment rooms and an imaging centre.
Explore our City Clinic with our virtual tour.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground stations are Bank and Monument, exit 6 for King William Street.
Should you be travelling by car, the closest parking is a three minute drive away at NCP Car Park London Vintry Thames Exchange. If you are attending clinic on a weekday, please be aware that we are based in the congestion charge zone.
- 75 King William StreetEC4N 7BE
- 0203 195 2442
- Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm.
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- MRI Scan
Fortius Clinic Marylebone
Our Marylebone Clinic is conveniently located in the historic area between Baker Street and Marylebone High Street, just off Manchester Square, home to the iconic Wallace Collection. We have seven consulting rooms, private waiting areas on each floor, well equipped treatment rooms and diagnostic imaging.
- 17 Fitzhardinge StreetW1U 2EU
- 020 3195 2442
- MRI Scan
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
Fortius Clinic Marylebone Wing
Our 79,000 sq ft, seven-story, private hospital on Wigmore Street has 39 en-suite inpatient rooms, consultation and treatment rooms, and a physiotherapy suite.
The hospital has a high-spec imaging suite fully equipped with an MRI, CT scanner and X-ray machine. There are three state-of-the-art operating theatres, two anaesthetic rooms and a recovery bay.
Fortius Clinic London has two Mako robots for hip and knee joint replacements.
- 66 Wigmore StreetW1U 2SB
- +442031952442
- Open 24 hours
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- CT guided injection
- MRI Scan
- CT Scan
Fortius Clinic Wimbledon
Our Wimbledon clinic houses a state-of-the-art imaging centre with a 3T MRI and X-ray scanners, Ultrasound, seven consulting rooms, two spacious waiting areas and well equipped treatment rooms all located on one level, ensuring easy accessibility for all patients.
Our partnership with Spire St Anthony’s Hospital allows us to provide orthopaedic surgery closer to our clinic. We treat a full range of conditions and perform joint replacement surgery using the latest Mako robotic assisted technology.
Take a tour of our clinic virtually through Google 360 views here.
We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm, and Saturday mornings from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground station is Wimbledon (District Line), which also has rail and tramlink services from central London and beyond.
There is no parking available at the clinic, but we have a number of parking facilities all within a 10-12 minute walk of the clinic: Centre Court Car Park, Broadway Car Park, and Hartfield Road Car Park. Please note that all of these facilities are paid car parks.
The building at 22 Worple Road has steps leading up to the front entrance. If you require assistance please inform us before your arrival by calling ahead on 020 3195 2442
- 22 Worple RoadSW19 4DD
- 0203 195 2442
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- MRI Scan
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