Scaphoid fracture

A scaphoid fracture is a break in a small bone on the thumb side of your wrist. This is also called a navicular fracture. Of the eight carpal bones in your wrist, your scaphoid bone is the one most likely to break.

It is important to find out if you have a scaphoid fracture, because these fractures need treatment to heal well. With proper treatment and follow-up, most scaphoid fractures will heal over time. Without treatment, and sometimes with treatment, healing can be slow and difficult because parts of the scaphoid bone don't have a good blood supply. If your bone does not heal well, you can have long-term pain, stiffness, or arthritis in your wrist.

Because most scaphoid fractures do not cause the wrist to look broken and many cause only minor symptoms, it can be hard to know if your scaphoid bone is broken. If the bone is broken, you may have:

• Pain, tenderness, or swelling on the thumb side of your wrist.
• A hard time grabbing or gripping things or moving and twisting your wrist or thumb.
• Bruises around your wrist.

It can be hard to tell the difference between a wrist that is sprained and one that is broken. If you have fallen on an outstretched hand and your wrist hurts, be sure to see a doctor to find out if you have any broken bones. Scaphoid fractures that are not treated properly can lead to long-term problems.

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and will check on your wrist and thumb movement. They'll also check for swollen or tender areas. You will probably have an X-ray to see if your wrist is broken. Because fractures can't always be seen right away, you may need a follow-up X-ray in 1 to 2 weeks. You may also need other imaging tests like MRIs, CT scans, or bone scans.

Treatment for scaphoid fractures includes wearing a cast or splint and sometimes having surgery. Even if tests don't show a fracture, you may still get treatment to help your wrist heal.

If your wrist is swollen, you may start with a splint. You may also wear a splint if it's not clear whether your bone is broken.

To help reduce swelling, your doctor may tell you to keep your wrist raised and to use cold packs or ice. Your doctor will talk to you about ways to manage your pain.

A cast may be used after the swelling is gone. How long you'll wear the cast depends on how serious your fracture is.

Sometimes surgery is needed to help fix the bone and help it to heal faster.

• Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • If the doctor gave your child a prescription medicine for pain, give it as prescribed.
  • If your child is not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if your child can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• Put ice or a cold pack on your child's wrist for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when your child is awake) or until the swelling goes down. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your child's skin.
• Prop up your child's wrist on pillows when your child sits or lies down in the first few days after the injury. Keep the wrist higher than the level of the heart. This will help reduce swelling.
• Follow your doctor's directions for wearing a splint or cast.