Techniques of Wrist Arthroscopy

Wrist arthroscopy is a promising new technique for the evaluation of wrist pain or dysfunction. Cadaveric wrist specimens were used to devise safe and advantageous entry portals for arthroscopy and to establish respective advantages for each portal. Thirty-five clinical cases were used to correlate the laboratory experience and to refine a reproducible surgical technique. Seven portals are useful: five in the radiocarpal interval, one in the midcarpal area, and one in the distal radioulnar joint space. Detailed wrist anatomy is reviewed in this paper and must be thoroughly understood to interpret arthroscopic views. Blunt subcutaneous dissection protects cutaneous nerve branches at the various portals. Intraoperative photographs illustrate the excellent perspectives achieved using these techniques.