Does this injury mean I will get arthritis?
At Bayside Hand Therapy we are often asked 'Will I get arthritis?' following finger, thumb and wrist injuries. In most cases, the answer is no, however there are some instances where the answer is yes it is likely.
The following are some situations where the injury will lead to premature arthritis in the affected joint.
A nasty intra-articular fracture which has disrupted the smooth surface of the joint. If the break extends into the joint, leaving a 'step' in the joint surface, the rough area will wear away the cartilage on the neighbouring bone, leading to osteo-arthritis. This complication can usually be avoided by seeking an early referral to a hand surgeon, who will realign the fracture fragments and pin them with tiny screws, plates or wires.
If a severe ligament injury is left untreated and has left you with a very unstable joint.
If a joint moves excessively in any particular direction following complete rupture of a ligament, this will lead to uneven wearing of the cartilage within the joint and lead to premature arthritis. For this reason, surgery is usually recommended to repair or reconstruct a ligament following complete rupture.
The take home message here is, make sure you seek appropriate treatment for hand injuries. If you have an issue with your hand, wrist or elbow, our team of hand therapy experts are here to help.
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