Wrist Stabilization

Wrist stabilization is surgery or a procedure to restore steadiness to a wrist that’s too loose or painful because key ligaments or bones aren’t holding it firmly. Think of the wrist as a complex bridge made of small bones connected by strong straps (ligaments). If those straps tear—like the scapholunate ligament—or a bone shifts after injury, the “bridge” wobbles, causing pain, weakness, and clunky motion.

To stabilize it, a surgeon first identifies which structures are failing. They may repair or reconstruct torn ligaments with sutures and anchors, sometimes using a tendon graft to act like a new strap. Temporary pins or screws can hold bones in the right alignment while tissues heal. In certain patterns of instability, they might tighten the capsule (the joint’s outer sleeve) or realign bones with small cuts (osteotomies). For widespread wear or severe patterns, limited fusions join select bones together to create a more solid, pain‑reduced unit while preserving as much motion as possible.

The goal is simple: re‑create normal alignment and support so the wrist moves smoothly, bears load safely, and feels strong for everyday tasks.

Shorter wait times

• Wrist stabilization surgery can take several months or more.
• Private clinics can schedule consultation and surgery sooner, reducing time with painful clunking, grip weakness, and activity limits.
• Faster care helps you return to work, sport, or music sooner.

Choice and control

• Choose an experienced surgeon with ligament reconstruction and carpal instability experience.
• Select the clinic location (often out-of-province).
• Plan surgery around school, competition season, or work deadlines.

Peace of mind

• Know exactly who will operate, when it will happen, and the detailed plan (which ligaments, repair vs reconstruction, fixation method, rehab milestones).
• Clear timelines reduce anxiety and help families and employers coordinate support.

Preventing further decline

• Function and quality of life: Limits months of pain, grip weakness, and lost dexterity that disrupt daily tasks.
• Joint health: Ongoing instability can accelerate cartilage wear and lead to arthritis; earlier stabilization can protect wrist mechanics.
• Surgical complexity: Repeated sprains and scarring can make later reconstruction more extensive, with tougher rehab.
• Mental load: Shortens time living with uncertainty, restricted activities, and sleep disruption from night pain.

1. ‍Confirm your diagnosis. Most patients start with a family doctor or specialist who confirms that surgery is needed, but surgeons can confirm the diagnosis if needed.
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2. Research. Explore surgeons who specialize in wrist stabilization surgery.
   • You can find surgeons in Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec on our app, and review qualifications, as well as pricing.
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3. Schedule an initial consultation. Most surgeons offer in-clinic and online consults.
   
   • Consultations are usually booked within days or a few weeks.
   • Note: expect a consultation fee between $150 - $350.
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4. Consultation. The surgeon will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics, such as x-rays or MRIs.
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5. ‍Post consultation. The surgeon will then review your case and provide surgical options based on your needs; review the risks and expected outcomes; and present pricing and scheduling options.
   
   • Because the procedure is not covered by your provincial health plan when done privately, you’ll need to review the quoted cost and consider payment options (out-of-pocket, private insurance, or financing).
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6. Schedule your surgery date. Once you confirm the procedure and payment, the clinic will schedule your surgery—generally within a few weeks.
   
   • Plan for travel and accommodation, since the surgery will likely take place outside your home province.
   • Expect pre-surgery preparation, and possibly some pre-surgery tests.

Most wrist stabilization surgeries take about 60–120 minutes (1–2 hours), depending on what’s torn and the technique. Plan on a few extra hours at the center for check-in, anesthesia, and recovery.

Basic steps

• Check-in and plan
  • Meet the team, review imaging, and the surgeon marks the wrist.
• Anesthesia
  • General anesthesia (asleep) and/or a nerve block to numb the arm afterward.
• Prep and positioning
  • Arm placed on a padded hand table; skin cleaned and draped sterile.
• Look inside (sometimes)
  • Wrist arthroscopy (tiny camera) may be used to inspect cartilage/ligaments and clean up loose tissue.
• Repair or reconstruction
  • If repairable: sutures and small anchors reattach the ligament to bone.
  • If too damaged: a tendon graft (your own or donor) reconstructs the ligament’s path.
• Hold alignment
  • Temporary pins/screws may hold small wrist bones in position while tissues heal; joint capsule may be tightened.
• Final check and closure
  • Surgeon checks stability and motion, removes the scope (if used), closes incisions, and applies a dressing and splint/cast.
• Wake-up and instructions
  • Recover in PACU, get at-home instructions for the splint/cast and elevation, then head home.

Your exact plan comes from your surgeon and can vary. Take rehab seriously—the more consistent you are, the better the outcome.

What to expect after wrist stabilization

Week 1

• Reality check: pain, swelling, stiffness, awkward sleep.
• Goals: control pain/swelling, protect the repair/reconstruction, keep fingers moving.
• Activities: elevate above heart most of the day; ice as allowed; keep dressings dry; wiggle fingers and thumb often; gentle shoulder/elbow motion. Splint or cast full-time. Have a helper for meals/meds/rides.

Weeks 2–4

• Still puffy but improving.
• Goals: reduce swelling; begin safe range of motion (ROM) if/when allowed; maintain finger/thumb flexibility.
• Activities: stitch removal if needed; continue splint/cast or switch to a removable brace per plan; start guided wrist/forearm motion only if cleared (many protocols delay wrist ROM to protect healing). Light daily tasks with the non-operative hand; gentle pinch/grip per physio.

Weeks 5–12

• The work phase.
• Goals: restore ROM gradually; begin strength and stability.
• Activities: transition from immobilization to a brace; progressive ROM (flex/extend, radial/ulnar deviation, pronation/supination) as approved; start strengthening—isos first, then light resistance; forearm, grip, and shoulder/scapula work. Avoid heavy lifting or forceful twisting until cleared.

Weeks 13–52

• Back to real-world function.
• Goals: near-full motion and strength; confident use for school, work, hobbies, and sport-specific skills.
• Activities: progressive resistance; endurance; proprioception/balance drills for the wrist (closed-chain, perturbations); task-specific practice. Desk work may resume earlier; heavy manual jobs take longer. Listen to your wrist and your physio.

Red flags anytime

• Fever, worsening redness/drainage, severe swelling, chest pain/shortness of breath, new numbness/weakness—contact your care team.

Private clinics in Canada typically charge $8,000 to $18,000.

Costs vary so much because of location, surgeon experience, facility type, scope of potential treatments, complexity of the issue, and included services (some clinics offer all-inclusive, while others charge separately for anesthesia, followup care, etc.).

What’s included

• Surgeon fee (and assistant if used) and anesthesiologist/general anesthesia
• Facility fees (OR time, nursing, supplies, equipment)
• Standard fixation hardware (anchors/screws) if part of the bundle
• Immediate post‑op recovery and routine early follow‑ups
• Basic post‑op splint/brace and dressings (varies by clinic)

What’s usually not included

• Pre-op imaging (X‑rays, MRI/CT), lab work, and extra specialist consults
• Travel and accommodation (if surgery is out‑of‑province/state)
• Long‑term physiotherapy after the initial session(s)
• Prescription medications after discharge
• Additional or premium implants/anchors beyond a standard bundle; biologics (PRP/BMAC)

Insurance and financing options

• Private health insurance: Some plans may cover part of the costs, such as hospital fees. It’s important to check your policy directly.
• Financing plans: Many clinics offer monthly payment options to help spread out the cost. Learn more about your financing options here.‍
• Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC): This is a non-refundable credit that reduces your taxes when you pay out-of-pocket for eligible medical expenses. Learn more about how to claim METC for private surgeries.

Choosing your surgeon is a major benefit of going private—use it to your advantage. Here’s what to consider and the key questions to bring to your consultation.

What to look for

• Experience and volume
  • Ask how many wrist stabilization procedures they perform yearly and by type: scapholunate (SL) repair/reconstruction, lunotriquetral (LT) repair, TFCC foveal repair, DRUJ stabilization, capsulodesis, tendon graft reconstructions, and salvage procedures.
  • Clarify primary vs revision volumes and outcomes in athletes vs manual workers.
• Credentials and training
  • Verify licensure with your provincial college (CPSO Ontario, CPSBC BC, CPSA Alberta, etc.).
  • Look for FRCSC-certified orthopedic or plastic surgeons with fellowship training in hand/upper-extremity surgery and specific expertise in wrist ligament reconstruction and arthroscopy.
• Outcomes and safety
  • Ask for 12–24 month data: infection rate, nerve complications (dorsal sensory branches, PIN), CRPS, hardware problems, loss of reduction/recurrent instability, unplanned re-op, and return-to-work timelines.
  • Request procedure-specific outcomes:
    • SL/LT: pain, grip strength recovery, DASH/PRWE scores, maintenance of alignment (SL gap/angle).
    • TFCC/DRUJ: forearm rotation, stability tests, and patient-reported function.
• Indications and alternatives
  • Ensure non-operative care was considered (immobilization, targeted hand therapy, activity modification, injections, wrist widget/brace).
  • Confirm timing relative to injury is appropriate (acute vs chronic strategies differ).
• Surgical plan and techniques
  • Which pathology is being addressed (SL, LT, TFCC foveal, DRUJ)?
  • Approach: open vs arthroscopic-assisted.
  • Technique: primary repair, capsulodesis, tendon graft reconstruction (e.g., Brunelli/3LT), internal brace/augmented repairs, temporary K-wire fixation.
  • How they balance stability with preserving motion; plan for hardware removal; expectations if cartilage wear (SLAC patterns) is present.
  • When they combine procedures (e.g., TFCC foveal repair plus ulnar shortening or wafer) and how that changes rehab, risks, and cost.
• Imaging and planning
  • Role of standard and clenched-fist X-rays, dynamic fluoroscopy, MRI/arthrogram, CT for carpal alignment/arthritis, and diagnostic arthroscopy.
  • How imaging and exam findings guide repair vs reconstruction vs salvage.
• Facility accreditation
  • Make sure the clinic is accredited by national bodies such as Accreditation Canada or the Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (CAAASF).‍‍
• Rehab integration
  
  • A written, phased protocol with timelines for immobilization, protected motion, strengthening, and return to work/sport.
  • Built-in coordination with certified hand therapists; guidance on splints/casts, lifting limits, pronation-supination precautions, and criteria-based progression.

Questions to ask during your wrist stabilization consultation

Surgeon and surgery plan

• How many wrist stabilization procedures (by type: SL/LT/TFCC/DRUJ) do you perform yearly? Primary vs revisions? Outcomes in the last 12–24 months?
• For my case, do you recommend repair, capsulodesis, tendon graft reconstruction, or an internal-brace–augmented approach—and why?
• What are your rates of infection, nerve irritation, CRPS, hardware issues, loss of reduction, and unplanned re-operation?
• Will you use arthroscopy to confirm and treat associated lesions? What might change intra-op and how would that affect recovery and cost?
• Anesthesia plan (regional block vs general) and multimodal pain strategy.

Setting and discharge

• Is this same-day surgery? Any chance of overnight stay?
• Do you have a hospital transfer agreement for emergencies?

Recovery and aftercare

• Timeline to: cast/splint duration, protected motion, strengthening, return to desk vs manual work, sport-specific drills.
• Expected motion limits and lifting restrictions, and how long they last.
• Hand therapy: frequency/duration; do you provide a written protocol and milestones? Will you coordinate with my local therapist?
• CRPS prevention strategy (early edema control, desensitization, vitamin C policy if used).
• Red flags to call/ER (fever, worsening pain/swelling, new numbness/weakness, color/temperature change).
• Who is my post-op contact (direct phone/email), typical response time, and how many follow-ups are included?

Costs and logistics

• What exactly is included in my quote: surgeon, anesthesiologist, facility fees, implants/anchors/internal brace, K-wire removal (if planned), nerve block, splints/casts, immediate post-op care, scheduled follow-ups?
• What could add cost: extra anchors/implants, longer OR time, combined procedures (e.g., ulnar shortening/wafer, arthroscopy), unexpected imaging, hardware removal outside the bundle, complications/re-operations?
• How do you handle consent and pricing if intra-op findings require a different stabilization method?
• If I’m traveling from another province, which follow-ups can be virtual? Will I receive the operative note, implant details, and the therapy protocol for my local care team?