Does scaphoid fracture cause swelling?

Scaphoid fractures usually cause pain and swelling in the anatomic snuffbox and on the thumb side of the wrist. The pain may be severe when you move your thumb or wrist, or when you try to pinch or grasp something. Unless your wrist is deformed, it might not be obvious that your scaphoid bone is broken.

What is the most common complication of scaphoid fracture?

Avascular necrosis is common complication of a scaphoid fracture (in around 30% of cases), with its risk increasing the more proximal the fracture. Non-union is the bone failing to heal properly, most commonly due to a poor blood supply.

Can a scaphoid fracture get worse?

It may get worse with pinching and gripping. There’s frequently no noticeable deformity or swelling, so it doesn’t look fractured. The pain may even improve in the days and weeks after the fracture. For these reasons, many people think it’s just a sprained wrist and delay getting appropriate treatment.

What happens if a scaphoid fracture is left untreated?

A scaphoid fracture can lead to wrist osteoarthritis, especially if the fracture is untreated and does not heal correctly. This is called “nonunion.” Severe cases of this kind of osteoarthritis can lead to an incorrect alignment of wrist bones in what is called scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse (SNAC).

Can scaphoid fracture heal without cast?

Because blood supply is needed to heal a fracture, the scaphoid often takes a long time (a few months) to heal. If the scaphoid fracture is non-displaced (bone has not moved out of place at the fracture), it usually can be successfully treated with a cast.

Can a scaphoid fracture heal without a cast?

Why are scaphoid fractures hard to heal?

The reason scaphoid fractures have a hard time healing is due to the anatomy of the blood supply to the bone. The blood supply is what keeps the bone alive and allows it to heal. Most of the bone is covered with cartilage, the smooth shiny material that forms the joints and allows the bones to move.

How long will I be off work with a broken scaphoid?

In general terms your wrist will take six to eight weeks to heal fully and during this time you will be unable to lift heavy items or do heavy manual work. However if you can do office-based duties you can potentially return to work with your plaster on before this time.

How do you speed up the scaphoid fracture healing?

1. Advance therapy with gentle AROM of the wrist and gentle opposition and flexion/extension exercises to the thumb.
2. Continue elbow and shoulder exercises.
3. Remove the short-arm cast at 6 weeks if the fracture appears to be radiographically healed.
4. Use a wrist splint for protection.

How long are you off work with a broken wrist?

How can you tell if you have a scaphoid fracture?

A scaphoid fracture is usually diagnosed by an x-ray of the wrist. However, x-rays do not always show scaphoid fractures. A break in the bone that cannot be seen on x-ray yet is called an “occult” fracture.

Is it normal to have swelling after an ankle fracture?

Swelling is a normal component of the healing process. However, excessive swelling can be harmful or indicative of overuse/irritation to the injured area. Typically, with swelling we recommend frequent icing. Ice for 15-20 minutes at a time multiple times a day (2-3 minimum).

Is the area around the scaphoid really swollen?

The area around the scaphoid may not be noticeably swollen, and the fracture does not always cause severe pain. For these reasons, this injury is often ignored or overlooked, and this can have significant consequences for future health.

How is a broken scaphoid different from a broken radius?

Scaphoid fractures. Unlike breaks in the long bones that connect to the wrist (such as the radius), a broken scaphoid is unlikely to display a visible, misshapen deformity in the wrist. The area around the scaphoid may not be noticeably swollen, and the fracture does not always cause severe pain.