Wrist Arthritis

Arthritis describes a loss of cartilage from a joint resulting in pain, stiffness and a loss of function. Wrist arthritis can occur due to numerous different underlying conditions; patients may have episodic pain or constant pain. Pain across the wrist may gradually get worse and limit the ability to use the wrist and hand.

Patients may, or may not, have a history of trauma to the wrist. If there was a previous injury such as a scaphoid fracture or ligament injury in the distant past, patients can develop characteristic arthritic changes referred to as either a SNAC (Scaphoid non-union advanced collapse) or a SLAC (Scapholunate advanced collapse) wrist.