Wrist Injuries

Diagnosis/Definition

• Significant pain and/or swelling after trauma to the wrist implies a significant injury. Osseous and ligamentous injury that may lead to instability must be carefully investigated and ruled out before the injury is classified as a wrist sprain.

Initial Diagnosis and management

• History and physical examination.
• Radiography
• A six view wrist trauma series should be ordered including posteroanterior, lateral, right and left oblique and PA in radial and ulnar deviation with a clenched fist.
• Treatment is based on the specific injury
• If no gross fx or instability is noted but significant pain and swelling is present, proceed with immobilization and reexamine in 2 weeks.
• Appropriate restrictions of activity.

Ongoing Management and Objective

• Immobilization should be utilized if needed.
• Ice compression if needed
• Flexibility and strengthening assessments

Indication a profile is needed

• Any limitations that affect strength, range of motion, and general efficiency of upper arms.
• Slightly limited mobility of joints, muscular weakness, or other musculo-skeletal defects that may prevent hand-to-hand fighting and disqualifies for prolonged effort.
• Defects or impairments that require significant restriction of use