Wrist Injury

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A wrist injury is a condition in which the tissues of the wrist joint are damaged. Two types of injuries that can happen to your wrist are sprains and strains. The wrist joint is the area where the bones of your forearm meet the bones of your hand. Your wrist is made up of tissues such as muscle, nerves, bones, tendons, and ligaments. Nerves in your wrist send and receive messages from your brain, helping you feel and move your wrist. Tendons are cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Ligaments are strong bands of elastic tissue that connect bones to other bones. Ligaments and tendons allow your wrist to move easily and remain stable.
  
  
• Damage to the tendons or ligaments in your wrist can cause pain and problems moving your wrist. A sprained wrist is when ligaments in your wrist are stretched or torn. A strained wrist is when a tendon or the muscle connected to a tendon in your wrist is stretched or overused. With a wrist injury, you may have pain, tenderness, weakness, swelling, or bruising of your wrist. It may be hard for you to move your wrist.
  
  
• Sprains are often caused by an accident, such as falling and landing onto the palm of your hand. Strained wrists are often caused by using the wrist too much for repetitive, forceful movements, such as during gymnastics. You may need an x-ray, CT scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test to diagnose your wrist injury. Treatments may include rest, medicine to decrease your pain and swelling, and physical therapy. You may need wrist support using a cast or splint to decrease your wrist movement while it heals. You may need surgery if other treatments do not improve your symptoms. Having your wrist injury treated may decrease your pain and other symptoms. Treatment may allow you to return to your daily activities.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• Wrist supports may cause weakness of the ligaments and tendons in your wrist. Your joint may become stiff, and wrist supports may press on nerves and blood vessels. Your skin can become thinner and break down, causing skin ulcers. Wrist supports may also cause contractures (shortened muscles). Rest, wrist supports, and other nonsurgical treatments may not help your wrist heal, and you may need surgery.
  
  
• Arthroscopic surgery may not be enough to heal your injury, and you may need open surgery. Surgery to repair your wrist injury may damage the nerves and other tissues in your wrist. After surgery, you may get an infection. As a result of surgery, your wrist may feel stiff, and you may get arthritis (swelling of your joint). Even after surgery, your wrist may not heal properly, and you may have problems moving your wrist.
  
  
• Without treatment, your symptoms, such as pain, weakness, swelling, and stiffness, may get worse. Tissues, such as nerves and muscles, may be damaged from swelling and lack of blood supply. You may have a higher risk of getting arthritis in your wrist. Your injury may prevent you from having complete movement in your hand and fingers. Speak to your caregiver if you have any questions or concerns about your injury or treatment.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

IV:

An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.

Medicines:

• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
  
  
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.
  
  
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine: This family of medicine is also called NSAIDs. Caregivers may give you NSAIDs to help decrease pain and inflammation (swelling). This medicine can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people.
  
  
• Steroids: You may be given steroids to decrease swelling in your wrist. You may get a shot of steroids, or steroids and pain medicine, in the area of your injury.

Treatment options:

Your treatment depends on the type of wrist injury and amount of tissue damage you have. You may need one or more of the following:

• Wrist supports: A cast or splint may be put on your fingers, hand, and wrist for support. Casts and splints may also help to decrease pain and movement in your wrist. Casts and splints may prevent further damage to your wrist. Ask your caregiver for more information about wearing casts and splints. Ask your caregiver which one is best for you and how long you should wear it.
  
  
• Physical therapy: Your caregiver may recommend that you go to physical therapy. A physical therapist shows you how to do exercises that can help to strengthen your wrist and improve its range of movement. These exercises may also help decrease your pain.
  
  
• Surgery: You may need surgery if your wrist injury does not heal with other treatments. Ask your caregiver for more information about surgery to treat your wrist injury. Surgery may include:
  
  
  • Arthroscopy: This is also called closed surgery. During arthroscopic surgery, small holes will be made in your wrist. A probe with a camera attached will be put through one hole to see inside. Your caregiver will insert instruments into the other hole. During arthroscopic surgery, caregivers may repair tears, and remove injured and loose tissues.
    
    
  • Open surgery: If you have a sprained wrist, surgery may be done to repair or replace a torn ligament. Your caregiver may use screws or wires to attach the bones in your wrist together. The screws and wires may help support your wrist and make it stable.

Copyright © 2012. Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Wrist Injury (Inpatient Care)