Wrist Implants
WristMotion® Hemiarthroplasty & Total Arthroplasty Systems
Have you been told that you suffer from degenerative arthritis of the wrist? Did you know that traditional treatments can limit a person’s range of motion and ability to perform daily tasks? Or, that they can also restrict physical activities that require grip, strength and wrist rotation
The WristMotion® Hemiarthroplasty Implant System restores mobility and recreates your natural anatomy while treating Wrist Arthritis and SNAC and SLAC Wrists. The WristMotion® System is performed in conjunction with a PRC (Proximal Row Carpectomy) and unlike traditional treatments, the Arthrosurface WristMotion® Hemiarthroplasty Implant System can allow you to live an independent lifestyle by preserving the native anatomy of your joint and removing minimal bone. It consists of a cap and mating fixation component that allows the surgeon to restore only the damaged area of the joint, without removing excessive bone and tissue.
It is the only implant designed to create a new, mobile wrist joint by matching the shapes and contours of the patients’ existing joint surfaces. The dual curved implant is placed into the capitate bone (main bone in the middle of the hand) and creates a smooth articulation with the socket of the radial bone (the large wrist bone in the forearm).
The wrist is a complex joint with many small “ball and socket” joints that move against each other. When the wrist becomes arthritic or the cartilage is damaged, pain and function between the different bones can severely limit activity and grip strength. The two most common procedures are a Proximal Row Carpectomy (PRC) or a 4 corner fusion. The fusion procedure is straightforward. The goal is to immobilize the bones in the hand thereby eliminating the pain caused by motion. However, it will affect the normal function and movement of the wrist joint. A PRC consists of removing the row of small damaged bones closest to the forearm so that the arthritic and painful elements are taken out. The hand bones naturally realign themselves so that the wrist can move normally and pain free again. The limitation with a PRC surgery is that it’s only indicated for a very narrow group of patients, namely, those where the damage or arthritis is limited to the bones in the proximal row. Patients tend to prefer the ability to move their wrist so Arthrosurface designed the WristMotion® implant to resurface the main bone in the second row allowing more patients to get a motion preserving PRC procedure. According to the literature, 4 Corner Fusions have a larger number of associated complications which is another reason that a PRC procedure is more attractive. By using a HemiCAP implant to recreate a new functional joint the patients can now maintain their motion and stay active.
WristMotion® Total Wrist Arthroplasty System
The WristMotion
® TWA System, is a modular joint preservation system that replaces both the radial and carpal sides of the wrist joint for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or post-traumatic arthritis. The system incorporates Arthrosurface’s proven fixation technology in the central carpal taper post design, also used in the WristMotion Hemiarthroplasty system, which has been in clinical use since 2015, with over 2,600 cases performed to date1. This system design is intended to address the concern of carpal loosening as it relates to existing systems on the market today. The WristMotion System also utilizes the Company’s dual curvature design feature in the carpal implant combined with the dorsal flange (or hood) which allows for greater range of extension due to the increased implant surface area1. Preclinical robotic testing has demonstrated that the combination of these features provides exceptional range of motion and rotational freedom (often called “dart thrower’s motion”), consistent with the Company’s design philosophy of preserving the complex kinematics of the native joints1. The WristMotion TWA System, along with the WristMotion Hemiarthroplasty device, provides surgeons with multiple treatment options for different stages and severities of wrist osteoarthritis.
The system is designed to replace the radiocarpal joint (distal radius and proximal row of carpal bones) and is intended to alleviate pain while restoring functionality and mobility of the joint.
Why Does My Wrist Hurt?
Wrist pain is becoming progressively more common. Your wrist is where your arm and hand bones connect and is one of the most mobile joints in the human body. The more mobile a joint is, the more unstable it becomes. Everyday wear and tear, and overuse of the wrist joint can result in painful symptoms as well as these other causes:
- Sprains/Fractures/Injury
- Sports Injuries
- Arthritis
- Repetitive Stress
- Accidental Falls
- Gout
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Dislocations
Many different factors can lead to wrist pain, making it difficult to narrow down the exact cause. However, when the pain is the result of arthritis or loss of cartilage, then it might be appropriate injury for surgical intervention. Receiving an accurate diagnosis from a doctor or preferably a Hand Specialist, is essential for proper treatment.
What is Arthritis of the wrist?
The wrist is comprised of multiple joints where the bones of the arm and hand meet to allow movement. Arthritis attacks your bones by destroying the cartilage, causing your bones to rub against one another. Arthritis of the wrist can result in severe pain and restriction of movement. Common signs and symptoms of arthritis of the wrist include:
- Stiffness
- Weakness
- Swelling
- Limited range of motion
- Clicking, cracking, or grinding sounds during movement
Patients report outstanding pain relief, rapid recovery times and significant range of motion improvements in multi-center studies and the procedure may be performed on outpatient basis. Every surgery has risks and your prospects for a safe and successful surgery must be evaluated with your surgeon. If you are affected by osteonecrosis or cartilage damage caused by a previous injury, a successful joint restoration procedure may significantly improve your quality of life by reducing pain and restoring function. Many patients return to full activity after rehabilitation and go back to doing things that they had given up on in the years before surgery. After the surgical repair of a joint, your surgeon will provide you with specific post-operative instructions which you need to follow carefully. Post-operative rehabilitation recommendations will vary depending on the invasiveness of your surgery and your individual recovery patterns. The immediate focus in all surgeries will be on swelling and pain management. In some cases you may wear a brace for a few weeks and will be prescribed exercises and activities to strengthen your muscles. Here are a few helpful suggestions as you recover and rehabilitate from your surgery:
- Follow the recommendations of your surgeon and physical therapist.
- Keep a log to track your progress as you recover and increase activity.
- Ask for assistance from family and friends to help with chores and errands during your recovery.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing during your recovery period.
- Eliminate possible tripping hazards in your home – wires, cables, rugs, etc.
- Return to any moderate or demanding activities should be guided by your tolerance for weight bearing.
The WristMotion® Hemiarthroplasty System is:
- Motion Preserving
- Excellent fixation
- Minimal hardware as it is only 2 pieces(Cap & Screw)
- Less Invasive
- Shortened Recovery Time
- Implants are matched to fit to a patients’ joint contours
- Significantly less cartilage and bone is removed than traditional joint replacements
- Joint motion and grip strength are maintained
Other procedures such as a Wrist Fusion (4-Corner Fusion) and Total Wrist Replacements significantly restrict motion and require multiple pieces of hardware to be implanted into your joint. Total Wrist Replacements are also known to loosen inside of the joint, causing pain, discomfort and resulting in a failed surgery. Once an implant fails, a revision surgery is necessary.
If you have been diagnosed with or are experiencing any of the following, you may be a candidate for the WristMotion®:
- SLAC Wrist
- SNAC Wrist
- Instability that causes advanced arthritis in the wrist.
- Dislocation of the joint
- Reduced Grip Strength
- Weakness in the wrist
- Kienbock disease – AKA Avascular Necrosis, Bone Death
- Painful and Stiff Wrist Joint
- Arthritis
*Seek professional medical advice for specific personal care.