Ligament shrinkage surgery

[Shimmy]

Hello,

New to the forum, but i wonder if anyone has ever had ligament shrinkage surgery to reduce the range of movement in their wrist, or any other joint?

Ive found out this week after an arthroscopy that ive completely shredded/torn/ ruptured the ligament at the STT joint in the thumb ( its got a long name), it cant be knitted back together, and that my options are: Do nothing, fusion of the bones, possible ligament reconstruction, or ligament shrinkage. Obviously having HMS is a complication and the surgeon doesnt know if any are viable for me, and he wants to see how i react to the steroid injections and whether the scar tissue actually helps?? Scar tissue reduces the range of movement, which apparently might be a good thing?

I only found out late last year that I have HMS after a string of injuries, and Im finding that some surgeons or doctors either dont know what HMS is or just excuse injuries and pain away blaming HMS, even if the problem is new.

Any suggestions, advice etc is welcome.

Shimmy

[Spireite]

No to your question.

How exactly is ligament shrinkage surgery carried out?

I have prolotherapy to tighten the ligaments. There is a (poor) thread on it but basically it is injections to induce inflammation so the body has another go at healing itself and results in ligaments tightening. I've had a lot done and love it. I haven't (yet) had anything done to the wrist area.

[Shimmy]

I dont know, the surgeon didnt go into details as he said we need to wait and see what happens in the mean time with the steroid injections into the joint....dont think he wanted to get my hopes up too early.
I dont know if it has a fancy name other than how he described it to me, as ligament shrinkage...unless he means the thing you have had done....

[mazza111]

I'm wondering if this is similar to the knee reconstruction they do, because they shorten all the ligaments and such when they do that. Can't help you though, sorry

[slinkypusscat]

I've had ligament reconstruction if that helps at all. The surgeon removed one of the STT bones, takes half of the main ligament in your fore arm, drills a hole through the bottom of the metacarpal and basically does a figure of eight with the ligament to tie the bone back into the CMC joint space. Had mine done last September (2011) and I'm pretty pleased so far - I have far more use of my hand (right, dominant hand) and less pain, I don't drop things so much and I have more function than I've had for some 5 years or so. Scarring is minimal, about half an inch on the inside forearm and 2 in white line along the ball of the thumb, although I have to say I don't have the skin healing problems that sometimes go with HMS or EDS..