Who Gets Scaphoid Fractures?
Scaphoid fractures account for about 60 percent of all wrist (carpal) fractures. They usually occur in men between ages 20 and 40 years, and are less common in children or in older adults. The break usually occurs during a fall on the outstretched hand. It’s a common injury in sports and motor vehicle accidents. Signs and Symptoms Pain and tenderness on the thumb side of the wrist. Motion (gripping) may be painful. May be some swelling on back and thumb side of wrist. Pain may subside, then return as a deep, dull aching. Marked tenderness to pressure on the “anatomical snuffbox,” (a triangular-shaped area on the side of the hand between two tendons that lead to the thumb.) Diagnosis The diagnosis is based on a history of trauma to the wrist (usually a fall or accident), a clinical exam that shows tenderness in the region of the scaphoid and x-rays that show a fracture. Sometimes, the x-ray does not show a fracture. In some cases other X-rays are needed to diagnosis the problem. Usually
