text_1: Wrist replacement surgery is a last resort for those who wish to save hand’s range of motion
text_2: Patients who suffer with hand and wrist arthritis face a number of treatment options, none of them especially good ones. This article attempts to show how one surgical procedure—the replacement of the wrist joint—fits into the spectrum of treatment choices. It notes that the “seldom-used” operation has been around for decades, and accurately reflects the complexity of the operation. Although the story mentions some of the alternatives to joint replacement (e.g. medications, physical therapy, and fusion)—and briefly sketches their advantages and disadvantages, it does not attempt to evaluate the quality of the evidence to support any of them. The story provides no data on whether the operation is appropriate in some people and not others, no measure or list of potential complications or costs, and no quantification of the procedure's absolute benefit or its relative worth compared to other treatments. The heart of the story is essentially a collection of anecdotes from one patient and one surgeon in one city in Texas. The article provides no news and little analysis, and largely reflects the story line of a recently issued press release from the institution where the surgeon performs these operations.