Patients › Wrist
Wrist
Wrist problems grouped by theme — carpal tunnel, tendon problems, fractures, ligament injuries, arthritis and ganglions — with each condition beside the operation that treats it.

Understanding your wrist¶
¿Cómo funciona tu muñeca?
Wrist anatomy – understanding the radius, ulna, and carpal bones is key to understanding wrist function. Open
Artroscopia de la muñeca
Diagnostic and therapeutic wrist arthroscopy — what it is, when it's used, and recovery. Open
Carpal tunnel & nerve compression¶
Síndrome del túnel carpiano
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes hand numbness, tingling, and weakness—diagnosis and treatment options explained. Open
Liberación del túnel carpiano
Carpal tunnel release surgery relieves median nerve compression—when it’s needed and what to expect. Open
Tendon problems¶
Tenosinovitis de De Quervain
Patient-facing topic on De Quervain's tenosynovitis (first dorsal compartment) — diagnosis, conservative management, and indications for de Quervain's release. Open
Liberación de De Quervain
De Quervain’s release surgery widens the tendon sheath to relieve pain from thumb tendon inflammation. Open
Tendinopatía del ECU y fenómeno de “clic” del ECU
Open
Síndrome de intersección
An overuse tendon problem of the back of the forearm, often confused with de Quervain's — its causes, and how rest, splinting or injection settle it. Open
Fractures¶
Fractura del radio distal
Distal radius fractures — assessment, casting, and indications for surgical fixation. Open
Reducción y fijación interna del radio distal
Open reduction and volar plate fixation of the distal radius — operation, recovery, rehabilitation. Open
Malunión del radio distal (y osteotomía correctiva)
When a wrist fracture heals in a poor position — the problems it causes and how a corrective osteotomy realigns the bone. Open
Fractura del escafoides
Scaphoid fractures — recognition, the high non-union risk, casting and percutaneous/open fixation. Open
Fijación del escafoides
Percutaneous and open compression-screw fixation of scaphoid fractures. Open
Ligament & TFCC injuries¶
Lesiones de los ligamentos de la muñeca
Wrist ligament injuries—common causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options (conservative vs surgery). Open
Lesión del ligamento escafo-lunar
A tear of the key ligament linking two wrist bones — how it is diagnosed, why it matters, and the repair or reconstruction options. Open
Lesión del complejo fibrocartilaginoso triangular de la muñeca
TFCC injuries — pain on the ulnar side of the wrist, often with clicking, and treatment options. Open
Dolor en el lado cubital de la muñeca e impactación cubital
Pain on the little-finger side of the wrist from the ulna grinding against the wrist bones, and how shortening it relieves the pressure. Open
Cirugía de la articulación radiocubital distal
Open
Arthritis & salvage surgery¶
Osteoartritis de la muñeca
Wrist osteoarthritis — understanding symptoms, non-surgical options, and when wrist replacement might be considered. Open
SLAC y SNAC de la muñeca
SLAC/SNAC wrist – understanding pain from arthritis at the wrist, often after injury. Open
Enfermedad de Kienböck
Kienböck’s disease — progressive wrist pain from lunate avascular necrosis; diagnosis and treatment options. Open
Fusión parcial de la muñeca
Patient-facing topic for four-corner and capitolunate (two-corner) fusion of the wrist — joint-preserving alternative to total wrist fusion that retains some bending motion. Open
Fusión total de la muñeca
Wrist fusion permanently joins wrist bones to relieve pain from arthritis or injury. Open
Carpectomía de la fila proximal
A wrist salvage operation for an arthritic wrist (SLAC/SNAC) that keeps useful movement — how it works, recovery, and how it compares with fusion. Open
Ganglions¶
Quistes ganglionares de la muñeca
Wrist ganglia are common, fluid-filled lumps – often painless – and this page covers observation, aspiration, and excision. Open
Excisión de ganglio de la muñeca
Ganglion excision — when to consider surgery, arthroscopic vs open approaches, and expected recovery. Open
Recovery and rehabilitation¶
Anticoagulantes antes y después de la cirugía
How anticoagulants and antiplatelets work, and why the timing of stopping each before surgery differs — platelet turnover, half-lives and clot risk. Open
Ayuno antes de la cirugía: qué puede comer y beber, y por qué
Why you must stop eating before an anaesthetic, when you can still sip water, and what can happen if you do not fast. The clear fasting rules that keep your stomach empty and your lungs safe during surgery. Open
Calor vs. frío
When ice helps, when heat helps, and how to use either safely on the upper limb. Open
Conducción después de cirugía de hombro y brazo: ¿cuándo es segura y legal?
After most shoulder surgery, including rotator cuff repair, you usually cannot drive for about six weeks, and not while your arm is in a sling. When it is safe and legal to get back to the wheel after hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder surgery. Open
Cuidado de su cicatriz
Massage, silicone, sun protection and the 12-month timeline for surgical scars to soften and fade. Open
Cuidado de su herida
Dressings, showering, and signs of infection after upper-limb surgery. Open
Cuidado del yeso y las férulas en el hogar
Looking after a plaster or splint at home — keeping it dry, elevation, keeping joints moving, and the urgent signs of a too-tight cast. Open
El día de su cirugía
What to expect on the day of day-case upper-limb surgery, from arrival and meeting the team to waking up and going home. Open
Estreñimiento y cuidado intestinal después de la cirugía
Why constipation is common after surgery (especially with strong painkillers) and how to prevent and manage it. Open
Fundamentos de la terapia de la mano
What to expect from hand therapy, how often you'll go, and what good rehab looks like. Open
Hinchazón y elevación después de la cirugía
Why a hand or arm swells after surgery, how elevation and gentle movement control it, and when swelling is a warning sign. Open
La vida cotidiana después de una cirugía de hombro
Washing, dressing, sleeping and managing day-to-day with the operated arm in a sling after shoulder surgery. Open
La vida cotidiana después de una cirugía de mano, muñeca o codo
Keeping a hand or wrist dressing dry, elevation to control swelling, and one-handed living after hand, wrist or elbow surgery. Open
Manejo del dolor postoperatorio
What pain to expect, how to use pain relief well, and when to call. Open
Melatonina después de la cirugía de hombro
Why we prescribe melatonin after shoulder surgery, what the trial evidence shows, the dose we use, and what to expect from it. Open
Mente, estrés y recuperación
How stress, low mood, anxiety and worry about pain affect recovery and surgical outcomes — and what helps. Open
Preparación para la cirugía
General checklist for the days before upper-limb surgery — fasting, what to bring, medications. Open
Prevención de coágulos sanguíneos en casa
Reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis after upper-limb surgery — mobilisation, hydration, medication. Open
Regreso al deporte
Phased return to sport after upper-limb surgery, and when contact sport is safe again. Open
Su bloqueo nervioso del hombro
The nerve block we use for shoulder surgery — how it numbs your arm, why it controls pain so well, and what to expect as it wears off. Open
Su control de la herida y retiro de puntos
What happens at the post-op wound check, dissolvable vs removable stitches, what removal feels like, and when to seek help sooner. Open
Sueño, dolor y recuperación
How sleep and pain affect each other, why surgery and shoulder problems disturb sleep, and what helps you rest and recover. Open
Una buena alimentación para la recuperación
Everyday food to support recovery after surgery — protein, energy, healing vitamins, and preventing constipation. Open
Uso y dormir con un cabestrillo para el brazo
How to sleep in an arm sling, get the sling position right, and look after it after shoulder, elbow or wrist surgery, including whether to keep the sling on overnight. Open
Volar y viajar después de la cirugía
Clot risk, cast tightness at altitude, fitness to fly and the practicalities of travelling after upper-limb surgery. Open
Volver al trabajo
When you can return to desk, light, and heavy work after upper-limb surgery. Open
¿Está infectada mi herida?
How to tell normal healing from a wound infection after surgery — the warning signs and when to seek help. Open