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Surface vs. internal wrist surgery scar tissue: Which one can be more problematic to your recovery?

2 minutes, 8 seconds

If you're someone who has recently undergone surgery on one of your wrists, you'll probably develop scar tissue. The type of scar tissue that you develop can affect the amount of time it takes for you to regain mobility, flexibility and strength after your operation. There are two general types of scarring: surface scar tissue and internal scar tissue.

Almost everyone who undergoes surgery develops scarring, whether it be internally or externally. Scar tissue develops when the body produces collagen at the site of a wound where previous tissue has been damaged. Both surface scarring and internal scarring can affect the time it takes to heal after surgery on the wrist. Keep reading below to learn how each one can affect recovery.

External scar tissue and recovery after wrist surgery

  • Factors affecting average healing time ” External scar tissue can sometimes take years to fully develop and can cause pain years after the injury first occurred. In some cases, scar tissue that wasn't problematic a year after the injury occurred can become painful and tight several years down the line.
  • Physical therapy's benefits for recovery time ” Reaching out to a physical therapist after an operation can make all the difference in making sure that recovery time isn't any longer than necessary. Your therapist will come up with a personalized treatment plan to target any excessive buildup of surface scar tissue that could prevent full mobility and cosmetic changes.

Internal scar tissue and recovery after wrist surgery

  • Factors affecting average healing time ”Internal scar tissue occurs on the inside of the body. Internal scar tissue can be more problematic to recovery than surface scar tissue. Collagen may build up on organs and can become problematic when the scar formations impair mobility.
  • Physical therapy's benefits for recovery time ” Seeking out the help of a physical therapist after an operation can make all the difference in making sure that recovery time isn't any longer than necessary. Your therapist will come up with a unique treatment plan to target any excessive buildup of internal scar tissue that prevents mobility and range of motion in your wrist.

Alliance PTP is ready to help you find top-notch PT for your wrist after surgery

At Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, we're proudly bringing together physical therapy practices nationwide to help people get the high-quality PT they need. Want to see a physical therapist in person? We can put you in touch with an Alliance PTP partner that's close to you and that can help you address your scar tissue buildup after surgery on your wrist.

Not keen on in-person PT sessions or not close to an Alliance PTP partner? No worries. We also offer effective and affordable virtual physical therapy through our Agile Virtual Physical Therapy platform.

Contact our team today so we can help you find the most effective physical therapy services for your injury or condition.

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