Symptoms of a Scaphoid Fracture - How To Identify It!
Discomfort with a scaphoid bone fracture
The symptoms that a Scaphoid fracture (Scaphoid fracture) can vary greatly from person to person. For some with a scaphoid fracture, the discomfort is so minor that it is not even noticed. In such cases, the scaphoid fracture will occur at some point later, if at all X-ray discovered that is made for a different reason
Classically, however, a scaphoid fracture already leads to certain symptoms, especially to Pain in the navicular bone. However, there are many other causes that can lead to pain in the navicular bone.
Also read all possible causes on this topic under Pain in the navicular bone
At the top here are the Pain, which are particularly on the Thumb side of Wrist occur. This pain is usually noticed a few hours after the accident. It is typical that the symptoms intensify when thumb or index finger be compressed (performing the so-called thumb compression test) when trying to grip the thumb or when subjecting the wrist to other stresses.
A relatively clear indication of a scaphoid fracture is tenderness in the Snuffbox. This term refers to the small depression at the bottom of the thumb at the transition to the wristthat occurs when you spread your thumb away from your hand. The scaphoid bone lies exactly under this tobacco, which is why it is hit and irritated directly when pressure is applied. Because of the pain described above is mainly the Grip strength but also the general mobility in many cases more or less restricted in the wrist. This is often compounded by the fact that a swelling of the wrist. In some cases you can also see one bruise (Hematoma) in the affected area.
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Some patients report that in the accident (which is mostly a fall on the outstretched wrist), they felt a kind of "Crack“Could hear in the thumb or even that it felt as if something had broken in the thumb.
If any of the above symptoms are present and the medical history can also be reconciled with a scaphoid fracture, you should definitely consult a doctor, as the non-treatment of a scaphoid fracture is significant for the person concerned Impairments can go hand in hand.
Scaphoid fracture without symptoms
Not always are symptoms a scaphoid fracture available or clearly attributed to the navicular bone. A scaphoid fracture can even occur without any discomfort. In most cases, latent pain is felt on the thumb side of the wrist. At the latest when pressure is applied to the exact point, which is in a small hollow between the thumb and forearm, a sharp pain occurs. If this pain is not present, a scaphoid fracture often goes completely undetected.
Many patients will like nonspecific symptoms Restrictions on movement present. Objects can often no longer be gripped with full force. The fracture in the scaphoid bone is only noticeable in an X-ray examination at the doctor's despite the fact that it is completely pain-free. If neither specific nor unspecific symptoms occur, the undetected fractures cause long-term complications. A symptom-free and untreated scaphoid fracture carries the risk of a Pseudarthrosis through faulty bone healing.
Symptoms of pseudarthrosis
A Pseudarthrosis of the scaphoid bone after a fracture is a common complication. It is the so-called "false joint formation". Due to two fracture points that are not optimally adjacent to one another, they cannot unite and heal. Pseudarthrosis can occur with any course of a scaphoid fracture. Both after conservative treatment and after surgical care, the ends of the bones can develop a pseudarthrosis. The most common cause however is the undiscovered scaphoid fracture.
A scaphoid fracture often goes undetected if there is no pain and the accompanying symptoms appear unspecific and are not treated. Even if the pieces of bone lie well on top of each other, there is a risk of dislocation and poor healing of the bone due to the lack of conservative treatment.
If there were no symptoms beforehand, the symptoms do not necessarily worsen even with the pseudarthrosis. Restrictions of movement and mild exercise-related pain are common, however. The pain occurs on the thumb side of the wrist. A pseudarthrosis can Treat surgically with a long subsequent immobilization.
Healing a scaphoid fracture
A Healing of the scaphoid fracture can be achieved with or without surgery.
How the fracture is treated is ultimately dependent on the type of fracture itself. Fractures in the distal two thirds can be treated conservatively. The distal third is immobilized for about 6-8 weeks.
The middle third should be immobilized for 10-12 weeks due to the poor blood supply. Surgery is almost always indicated for fractures of the proximal third. Such a scaphoid fracture is usually screwed.
Since the scaphoid bone heals very poorly, complications in the healing are frequent.
Therefore read more on the subject under Healing a scaphoid fracture
