What is Fused Wrist?
A wrist fusion is the most reliable operation to treat patients with wrist arthritis. The wrist consists of a collection of joints and bones which allows us to use our hands in a variety of ways. The wrist is extremely mobile, enabling a full range of motion.
When small joints in the wrist being arthritic, it causes pain when moving the wrist. It also makes it difficult to grasp objects as the wrist bones tighten together, decreasing the wrist mobility. Arthritis can also cause the wrist alignment to change, causing deformity.
Wrist fusion surgery can restore the alignment of the wrist by fusing thebones together. This eliminates wrist pain caused by arthritis as the wrist bones join into one solid bone. In total, this surgery involves getting 12 or 13 bones in the wrist to grow back together.
Symptoms of Wrist Arthritis or Fused Wrist
Symptoms of wrist arthritis include pain, swelling, reduced range of motion, wrist stiffness, and weakness when gripping objects. Arthritis involves the inflammation of the joints, damaging the cartilage of the wrist causing the bones to rub together as a result.
This cartilage is necessary as it protects the bones, cushioning them when moving the wrist. Without this cartilage, patients experience a significant amount of pain as the mobility of their wrist is restricted.
Treatments for Fused Wrist
As mentioned above, wrist arthritis can be treated by undergoing wrist fusion surgery. The goal of this surgery is to get the bones of the wrist to fuse together into one bone. This surgery has a trade-off, as some motion in the wrist will be lost as a result of this surgery.
However, many patients still choose to undergo this surgery as it strengthens their wrist and eliminates pain caused by their arthritis. It is important to avoid complications after the surgery by wearing an elbow length cast for about 6 weeks following the procedure.
This keeps the wrist in place as the bones of the wrist fuse together. Complications can arise if these steps are not followed, including infections, nerve and blood vessel injury, tendon irritation, and non-union (bones not fusing together).
Eligibility Criteria for Disability Tax Credit for Fused Wrist
Wrist arthritis would likely qualify a patient under the disability section entitled dressing impairment. For example, lack of motion in the wrist can cause difficulty buttoning up clothing.
With regards to dressing oneself, this does not include identifying, finding, shopping, or procuring clothing. Devices to assist individuals in dressing themselves include buttonhooks, long-handled shoehorns, grab rails, and safety pulls.
Click Here To Check Your Eligibility for Disability Tax Credit for Fused Wrist
How To Apply for Disability Tax Credit for Fused Wrist?
To be considered as spending an inordinate amount of time putting on clothing it must take youthree times the normal time required by an average person to get dressed. Examples of being markedly restricted include being unable to dress oneself without the assistance of another person, and requiring an inordinate amount of time due to having pain, stiffness, and decreased dexterity.
To apply, our experts will assist you in filling out form T2201 where you will need to get your medical practitioner to complete this form. This will ask your doctor to describe how you are impaired by your disability. It is important to be descriptive in this section as a patient can be affected in a variety of ways by Fused Wrist.
Disability Tax Credit Consultants at DCC can help to +claim this tax credit and collect up to $40,000 in disability tax credits.