Often the athlete will ignore the injury, assuming that it was a sprain. Scaphoid fractures may result in a minimal degree of swelling. Among female athletes sustaining scaphoid fractures, rollerblading and skateboarding were the most common activities. Among male athletes, the highest number of scaphoid fractures occurred while playing basketball (11%) followed by bicycling and skateboarding. The peak age range was 10 to 19, followed closely by 20 to 29 years of age. Using United States National Emergency Department data, a 2010 study demonstrated that two-thirds of scaphoid fractures occurred in men. Another reported mechanism for scaphoid fracture is contact with a closed fist, termed ‘puncher’s fracture’. The advent of percutaneous scaphoid fixation offers the possibility of earlier return to sport, but is it worthwhile? This paper will review contemporary issues regarding the fractured scaphoid.įar and away, the most common mechanism of injury is fall onto an outstretched hand. Even in the best of circumstances, cast treatment will likely keep the athlete on the sidelines for several months. The diagnosis is easily missed, and failure to initiate treatment promptly may result in non-union. Not many upper extremity injuries are as potentially devastating to the athlete as scaphoid fractures. This will not only help you get the pain relief you need, but it will also aid the healing process and prevent any complications.Should we be repairing all scaphoid fractures in the athlete? If you believe you have suffered such a fracture, it is crucial that you seek immediate medical treatment. Recovering from a scaphoid fracture can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months depending on the nature of your injury. A screw placed between the fragments holds them in place until they have completely healed. Another common surgical treatment is known as internal fixation, and this is used when a bone shatters into two or more pieces. This is known as “reduction surgery,” and it is relatively simple. Surgical treatment may be required if the bone is out of its original place. If the fracture is in a bone closer to the middle of the wrist, doctors will sometimes use bone stimulators, which are devices that generate low-intensity electrical impulses, to aid in the healing process. You may be given pain medication, advised to take anti-inflammatory medications, and be asked to use a sling to elevate your wrist. For simple cracks, most doctors will recommend nothing more than a cast for anywhere from three to six weeks to allow the bone to heal on its own. The treatment for the scaphoid fracture will depend on the nature of the injury. Numbness is also common with this injury the scaphoid bones are known for having very low blood flow, and when a fracture disrupts it further, patients sometimes experience numbness in the palms of the hands and fingers. For others, the pain may be more severe, and it may even make it difficult or impossible for the individual to use his or her thumb and fingers to grasp or pinch something. For some, mild pain and tenderness in the wrist is the only symptom. Symptoms of scaphoid fracture can vary a great deal. These fractures can be relatively simple and involve only a small crack, but in some cases, and depending on the individual’s age and health, the bones may shatter. The sudden pressure and force can cause the small bones between the arm and the hand to crack, thus leading to a fracture. In almost all cases, scaphoid fractures occur when individuals slip and fall before landing on their outstretched hands. Learning more about scaphoid fractures and your options for treatment can help you make the best decisions for your health. Symptoms can vary from person to person, and depending on the severity of the fracture, the treatments may also vary. Scaphoid fractures, or fractures of the very small bones of the wrists, occur when individuals fall onto their hands.
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