Denervation surgery has been a mainstay of our management of chronic pain in the wrist. If there is useful movement at the wrist we prefer denervation to arthrodesis.

We have reviewed 22 patients at a mean of 50 months after such denervation surgery at the wrist. This was the only treatment in 16 patients; the other six also had other treatments. Pain was reduced in 16 patients, and 17 were satisfied or improved. None of the patients wished to have a supplementary arthrodesis.

We stress the importance of preoperative blockade tests and of a very detailed knowledge of the local anatomy.