Partial Wrist Denervation: The Evidence Behind a Small Fix for Big Problems

Wrist denervation addresses symptomatic wrist pain without the morbidity and complication profile of more extensive surgical procedures aimed to correct the underlying pathology. The concept of wrist denervation is not new, but its practical application has been modified over the past 50 years. A variety of techniques have been described for various indications, with generally good results. In the United States, a simple, single incision partial denervation consisting of neurectomies of the anterior and posterior interosseous nerves is most commonly performed. Although data on this procedure are limited, most patients are satisfied with pain relief in the short term. There is no evidence that partial denervation procedures alter proprioception of the wrist, and this procedure shows promise as a good option for palliating pain without prolonged postoperative immobilization or leave from work. Preoperative injections do not seem to correlate well with postoperative results. Future studies are needed to assess the duration of relief and possible acceleration of underlying pathology.