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Fracture of the bones of the wrist: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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ICD-10 code
S62. Fracture at the level of the wrist and hand.
Epidemiology of fracture of the bones of the wrist
Fractures of the bones of the wrist reach 1% among the fractures of the remaining bones of the skeleton. The scaphoid bone most often suffers, then the semilunar, much less often - all the other bones of the wrist.
What causes a fracture of the bones of the wrist?
Fractures can occur as a result of a direct and indirect injury mechanism, but still more often indicate an indirect injury mechanism.
Due to the presence of a large number of inactive joints, strengthened from the rear and the palm of the tightly tied ligaments (carpometacus, back and palmar), and also due to the arrangement of bones in the form of a vault convex toward the rear, conditions for good depreciation are created. This explains the extremely rare traumatization of the three-faceted, pea-like, hook-shaped, capitate, large and small trapezoidal bones, especially with the indirect mechanism of trauma.
Symptoms of a fracture of the bones of the wrist
Symptoms of fractures are scanty: edema of the wrist, local soreness, a positive symptom of the axial load (pressure on the axis of the finger or metacarpal bone).
Diagnosis of fracture of the bones of the wrist
Because of the small size of the bones, the final diagnosis without radiography is practically impossible.
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Treatment of a fracture of the bones of the wrist
After anesthesia, the fracture site is applied with a gypsum limb for 5-6 weeks. After a course of restorative treatment, you can start work not earlier than 8-10 weeks after the injury.