Dry Needle Arthroscopy of the Wrist in an Office Setting: 15 Cases.

Purpose: Arthroscopy remains the gold standard to diagnose ligamentous lesions in the wrist. The coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic put a strain on resources, prompting an increase in procedures performed under local anesthesia. Dry needle arthroscopy of the wrist has previously been used in the operating room. The purpose of this study was to assess the results and patient satisfaction of wrist arthroscopy under local anesthesia in an office setting.

Methods: A prospective series of 15 patients presenting with wrist trauma and a suspected ligamentous injury to the wrist were included. All patients underwent radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before the procedure. Dry needle arthroscopy was performed by a surgeon with a nurse assistant, in the office under local anesthesia, using a traction device for distraction of the wrist. Patient satisfaction was assessed with the Picker Patient Experience-15 (PPE-15) questionnaire.

Results: The patient's mean age was 34 years (range: 18-51). There were no intraoperative complications or postoperative infections. The median PPE-15 score was 90 of 100. Visualization of the intraarticular structures was excellent.

Conclusions: Dry needle arthroscopy of the wrist under local anesthesia in an office setting seems to be a feasible method to diagnose ligament injuries of the wrist. Patient satisfaction with the procedure was high.

Clinical relevance: Dry needle arthroscopy of the wrist under local anesthesia in-office could facilitate and expedite diagnosis of wrist injuries.