How do you treat a SLAC wrist?

Mild symptomatic SLAC can often be managed nonoperatively with periodic steroid injections, splinting, and NSAIDs. If the grip strength of the SLAC wrist is greater than 80% of that of the uninvolved wrist and the condition is not giving rise to significant impairment, then living with SLAC is a valid option.

What are the symptoms of SLAC wrist?

Some of the common symptoms of scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) wrist include:

Difficulty with weight-bearing across the wrist.
Significant pain in the area of the scapholunate interval.
Progressive weakness of the involved hand.
Wrist stiffness.
Weak grip strength.
Tenderness to palpation.

Will xray show torn ligament in wrist?

Although an x-ray will not show the ligaments themselves, it can suggest a ligament injury if the wrist bones do not line up correctly. An x-ray can also help your doctor rule out a broken bone in your wrist.

What does SLAC wrist mean?

Scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) of the wrist is the most common pattern of degenerative arthritis in the wrist. The hallmark of SLAC is scaphoid or scapholunate ligament injury with collapse on the radial side of the wrist. Watson and Ballet coined the term SLAC wrist in 1984.

What is arthritis in the wrist called?

Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can develop due to normal “wear-and-tear” in the wrist, particularly in people who have a family history of arthritis. It is a common problem for many people after they reach middle age, though it may occur in younger people, too.

Can a torn wrist ligament heal by itself?

How long does wrist ligament surgery take to heal? Recovery times vary based on severity and extent of the injury, but after a surgery to repair a torn ligament in the wrist, you will, conservatively, need at least six weeks for the tissues to fully heal themselves.

Is wrist fusion surgery painful?

While you will lose some range of motion after wrist fusion surgery, you will no longer have pain, and you will regain the lost strength in your wrist over time. You will once again be able to grip and have strong flexion in your hand. If strength is essential for your line of work, wrist fusion is an excellent option.

What happens to your wrist if you get SLAC?

When this ligament is injured the unstable wrist bones very gradually develop painful arthritis over months and years. This condition is usually seen in adults but can occasionally occur in younger people with severe wrist injuries. The end result of untreated SLAC wrist is a severe wrist osteoarthritis which is often painful and limits function.

What kind of X-ray is needed for SLAC wrist?

X-rays are usually confirmatory, although sometimes an MRI or wrist arthroscopy is recommended to evaluate the scapholunate ligament and joint surfaces in early cases. Treatment for SLAC wrist arthritis depends largely on how advanced the arthritis is.

What does SLAC stand for in medical terms?

SLAC stands for “scapho-lunate advanced collapse”. It is a painful condition of the wrist. The scaphoid and lunate are two small bones in the wrist held tightly together by a band of tissue called the scapholunate ligament. When this ligament is injured the unstable wrist bones very gradually develop painful arthritis over months and years.

When to use total wrist arthroplasty for SLAC wrist?

It generally takes 6 to 8 weeks for the fusion to take effect. Total wrist arthroplasty for treating SLAC wrist can also be used instead of diffuse arthrosis of the wrist. This is usually recommended in case of rheumatoid arthritis or presence of bilateral disease.

How do you treat a SLAC wrist? Mild symptomatic SLAC can often be managed nonoperatively with periodic steroid injections, splinting, and NSAIDs. If the grip strength of the SLAC wrist is greater than 80% of that of the uninvolved wrist and the condition is not giving rise to significant impairment, then living with SLAC is…