1. What is wrist drop?
Wrist drop is the issue when you can’t lift your wrist and fingers up because of an injury to the radial nerve.
2. What are the causes for wrist drop?
Wrist drop is caused by damage to the radial nerve which controls the wrist and finger extensor muscles. It can be caused due to breaking your arm, dislocation of shoulder, compression in the arm and surgery or trauma in the armpit.
3. How is wrist drop treated?
Wrist drop can be treated with nerve repair, nerve transfer, or tendon transfer surgeries. Your hand surgeon can guide you what surgery is appropriate for you.
4. What is nerve repair for wrist drop?
Nerve repair surgery fixes damaged nerves in the wrist to help improve movement. It can be done if the radial nerve injury is identified before or during fracture fixation and even up to 4 to 6 months after injury.
5. How does nerve transfer help with wrist drop?
Nerve transfer surgery moves healthy nerves supplying other muscles to the muscle supplied by radial nerve to restore wrist and finger movement. Nerve transfer is done if wrist drop doesn’t recover till 8 to 9 months without surgery.
6. What is tendon transfer for wrist drop?
Tendon transfer surgery uses healthy tendons to the tendons responsible to lift the wrist and fingers. It is done if earlier nerve repair or nerve transfer has failed or if wrist drop is for more than a year.
7. What care must be taken after these procedures?
A patient needs physiotherapy for better recovery after nerve repair, nerve transfer or tendon transfer for optimum recovery.
9. How effective are these treatments?
The effectiveness of treatment depends on factors like the cause and duration of wrist drop, but these surgeries can often improve wrist function under the skilful hands of a surgeon.
10. Are there any risks with these surgeries?
Like any other surgery, there are risks such as infection, bleeding, or nerve damage, but a skilled surgeon will discuss these with you before the procedure.
11. How long does it take to recover from wrist drop surgery?
Recovery time varies, but it can take 6 to 12weeks to regain full wrist function after surgery.
12. What happens if wrist drop is left untreated?
Leaving wrist drop untreated will lead to permanent loss of function of the wrist and decreased quality of life.
13. How do I know if I need surgery for wrist drop?
The doctor will assess your symptoms, medical history, and perform tests to determine the best course of treatment, which may include surgery if conservative measures are ineffective.
14. What can I expect during the recovery process after surgery?
During recovery, you may need physical therapy to regain strength and mobility in your wrist. Your doctor will provide specific instructions for post-operative care and rehabilitation exercises.
15. Is there a chance of wrist drop recurring after surgery?
Wrist drop is totally treatable. If the surgery is done well in time, patient can regain near normal movement.