Table of Contents
What is the scaphoid What are some complications with a scaphoid fracture?
Scaphoid fractures usually cause pain and swelling in the anatomic snuffbox and on the thumb side of the wrist. The pain may be severe when you move your thumb or wrist, or when you try to pinch or grasp something. Unless your wrist is deformed, it might not be obvious that your scaphoid bone is broken.
Can a scaphoid fracture cause nerve damage?
Within scaphoid fractures, the median nerve can be damaged in some ways. A displaced fracture could determine an acute4 or progressive nerve compression,5,6,7 whereas in nondisplaced ones, this eventuality could occur by the fracture hematoma.
How serious is a broken scaphoid bone?
A scaphoid fracture that is correctly treated soon after the injury will take about 12 weeks to heel. But an untreated fracture may take as long as six months to recover from. Untreated patients will also usually experience long-term problems moving their wrist or other complications (see below).
Why is scaphoid fracture clinically significant?
Scaphoid fractures are significant because a delay in diagnosis can lead to a variety of adverse outcomes that include nonunion, delayed union, decreased grip strength, decreased range of motion, and osteoarthritis of the radiocarpal joint.
Can scaphoid fracture cause carpal tunnel?
Acute carpal tunnel syndrome caused by fracture of the scaphoid and the 5th metacarpal bones. Injury.
Can scaphoid fracture cause thumb numbness?
Symptoms of a Scaphoid Fracture The pain may intensify when moving the thumb or wrist or when trying to grip an object. The wrist may look bent or crooked, but there is not always a visible deformity. Numbness or stiffness may occur in the thumb or wrist.
What percentage of scaphoid fractures require surgery?
To summarize our results, we estimated the incidence of scaphoid fractures as 10.6 per 100,000 person-years. Of 8923 closed scaphoid fractures, 29 and 71% were treated surgically and with casting, respectively.
How can I strengthen my wrist after scaphoid fracture?
Wrist Fracture, Scaphoid: Rehabilitation Exercises
- Flexion: Gently bend your wrist forward. Hold for 5 seconds. Do 2 sets of 15.
- Extension: Gently bend your wrist backward. Hold this position 5 seconds.
- Side to side: Gently move your wrist from side to side (a handshake motion). Hold for 5 seconds in each direction.
Should thumb be immobilized with scaphoid fracture?
In conclusion, this study demonstrated that, for nondisplaced scaphoid waist fractures, wrist immobilization is crucial to limiting fracture displacement. However, immobilization of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint does not contribute to fracture stability under physiologic loading.
When does a scaphoid fracture need surgery?
Surgical treatment is indicated for non-displaced scaphoid fractures which have not healed after 6 weeks of splinting. It is also necessary for unstable scaphoid fractures and displaced scaphoid fractures. Screws are most often used to realign the scaphoid fragments via open reduction and internal fixation.
Will my scaphoid ever heal?
Conclusion Subacute scaphoid fractures (presenting within 6 months from injury) can be expected to successfully heal with casting alone, even if the initial diagnosis is delayed.
Can you lift weights with scaphoid fracture?
The patient must take proper care to wear the cast until complete recovery of the fracture has occurred. It is also very important to maintain complete motion of the fingers and avoid lifting or pushing heavy weights during the recovery period.
What is a scapholunate ligament injury?
Scapholunate ligament injury (SLI) is one of the most common ligamentous injuries seen in the wrist. Not only can this condition result in wrist pain, decreased grip strength, and decreased motion, the natural history of SL ligament disruption may involve a progressive arthrosis of the radiocarpal and intercarpal articulations.
How is a scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) injury diagnosed on X-rays?
Regular x-rays show a gap between the scaphoid and the lunate. In a scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) injury, the ligament is completely torn, and the injury has been there a long time (years) causing arthritis, or evidence of cartilage damage, to be seen on regular x-rays in addition to the gapping between the scaphoid and the lunate.
Does lengthening the scaphoid correct dorsal intercalated segment instability in scapholunate ligament injury?
Objective We hypothesized that lengthening the scaphoid in a model of scapholunate ligament injury (SLI) will result in correction of radiographic markers of dorsal intercalated segment instability (DISI) deformity.
What are the possible complications of a scaphoid fracture?
The major complication of scaphoid fractures is non-union or malunion leading to instability, deformity and secondary osteoarthritic change. Hence surgical treatment of displaced fractures or angulation.