Osteoarthritis in the Wrist and Hand

What is hand and wrist osteoarthritis?

Arthritis literally means “inflamed joint,” and generally refers to any damage to the joints of the body. There are 36 joints in the hand and wrist, and several sites that are commonly affected by arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type and is a degenerative breakdown of the joints over time. The CMC joint at the base of the thumb is commonly affected. Less common forms of arthritis include damage to the joint due to injuries (post-traumatic arthritis), infection (septic arthritis), and inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid, gout, psoriatic).

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Woman with osteoarthritis shows her hands

Overview

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Your symptoms and medical history as well as an examination of your hand and wrist can help to diagnose arthritis. Often, X-rays of the hand and wrist will show signs of arthritis, including bone spurs and cysts. We may need to conduct additional tests to determine the cause of the arthritis if we suspect inflammatory arthritis or infection.

X-rays of hands with Osteoarthritis
X-ray of hands with osteoarthritis

Why treatment matters

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, and can usually be managed with activity modifications, anti-inflammatory medications, splinting and steroid injections. Depending on the location of the arthritis, surgical fusion or reconstruction of the joint may significantly improve symptoms in severe or long-standing cases.

Take the next step

Our board-certified specialists are here to help you heal. They can often diagnose the problem in one visit and get you started with a personalized treatment plan. We offer a wide variety of treatment options.