A fracture or a crack in the bone situated below the thumb that has a shape like a kidney bean and is a part of the wrist is called a scaphoid fracture. This fracture mainly occurs when excess, unwanted force is exerted on a hand/wrist, such as during a motor vehicle accident.
Nonunions occur when your body is unable to heal a fracture. According to the FDA, a fracture that persists for a minimum of 9 months without any sign of healing for 3 months is called non-union.
This type of fracture usually results in excruciating pain and inflammation over the thumb and side of the wrist. Treatment varies as per the severity of the injury, and experts usually recommend immobilization for this type of fracture. The need for surgery in case of a Scaphoid fracture depends on its severity.
The human body of an adult contains 206-213 bones, and the hand consists of 27 types of bones divided into three groups 1. Phalanges 2. Metacarpal bones 3. Carpal bones.
A scaphoid fracture is a fracture or crack taking place in the scaphoid bone because of an unwanted force. This scaphoid bone falls under the category of carpal bones and is located between the trapezium and the radius bone of the hand.
The position and size of this bone, located on the side of the wrist, are the main reasons for its vulnerability to injuries and fractures.
According to experts, the scaphoid is the most frequently fractured bone (approximately 70%) under the category of carpal bone. Furthermore, the scaphoid bone is divided into three parts: the proximal pole, the waist, and the distal pole. 80% of fractures occur at the waist, whereas the proximal and distal poles are responsible for 20% and 10% of fractures, respectively.
One of the most common reasons for scaphoid fractures is falling on an outstretched hand. When exerted on the scaphoid bones, the unwanted force generated from the fall leads to scaphoid bone damage.
Falling onto an outstretched hand is entirely an instinct-based event. It means that whenever your mind feels that the body is about to fall, it extends the arm and tries to break the fall with its help to protect the fragile and more crucial parts of the body such as the face, head, back, etc.
But because the hand bears the excess unwanted impact of the whole body, it may cause your wrist to bend more than it's supposed to, resulting in a fracture.
The main reason your scaphoid bone gets fractured in a fall is that it is the primary connecting point between your hand and your forearm. The force generated when your hand hits the ground reaches the forearm by passing through the scaphoid bone first, which puts too much stress on this tiny bone, resulting in its breakdown.
A Scaphoid fracture mainly occurs while doing any sports activity such as skiing, snowboarding, skating, weightlifting, etc. Participating in such extreme activities could put too much stress on your Scaphoid bone, resulting in a fracture or damage. It is advisable to wear a wrist guard to avoid such injuries.
Given below is a list of symptoms that might indicate a Scaphoid fracture:
While facing these symptoms, it is mandatory to seek professional help and undergo all the necessary tests to confirm the diagnosis because, most times, individuals are diagnosed with a wrist sprain while suffering from a scaphoid fracture.
Compared to other kinds of fractures, the diagnosis of a scaphoid fracture is slightly different because if the X-ray is taken right after the injury, then there's the probability that the X-ray might fail to show any abnormality in case the bone is not displaced.
Approximately 25% of scaphoid fractures aren't diagnosed through an X-ray right after the injury. A scaphoid fracture wherein the position of the bone is intact might be noticed in the X-ray after the recovery has begun, i.e., after a week or two of the injury.
Because of these diagnosis complications, it is common to opt for immobilization as the method of treatment for a wrist injury for one or two weeks. After several days, another X-ray is taken to determine whether the bone is broken. In addition to that, one can opt for an MRI to diagnose the injury thoroughly, in which case there'd be no need to repeat an X-ray.
In some cases, wherein your doctor can see the fracture but cannot recognize if the bones are aligned appropriately, the doctor can opt for an MRI or a CT scan to select a proper treatment for the patient.
The selection of treatment for a fracture depends on several factors, such as the location of the fracture, when the injury took place and the alignment of the affected bones. The method of treatment varies as per the type of fracture. Given below are a few types of treatment that are chosen for scaphoid fractures:
A cast/splint is provided after the surgery, which is supposed to aid you in immobilization and faster recovery. As soon as the cast is removed after 8-12 weeks, another X-ray is taken to check the status of the fracture. In addition to that, the doctor also prescribes some antibiotics to avoid infections and kill the pain.
In general, a patient has to keep the cast on for approximately 2-3 months so that the damaged area and bone are immobilized; after that, they can remove the cast once the X-ray shows it's healed.
No matter what kind of treatment you and your doctor opt for, as soon as the recovery stage is completed, you will require physiotherapy for the injured area to regain the original strength, movement, and potential of the injured area. Physiotherapy also helps reduce the stiffness caused by constantly wearing a cast for months.
Once the surgery is completed, you might need to enroll yourself in physiotherapy for 1-2 months. You have to focus on basic exercises for the first few exercise that'll help you in reducing your pain and inflammation. After that, advanced exercises are used to stabilize your muscles around the wrist.
These exercises are done on a regular basis so that you can regain your hand's movement and potential back to how it was before the injury. Also, hand therapy aids you in reducing the stiffness that is caused by constantly wearing a cast or a splint, and it saves you from everlasting pain that can take because of excess or lack of hand exercises.
Experts at Cutis have complete end-to-end knowledge and practical experience in treating Scaphoid fractures and Non-unions. Healthcare surgeons make the end-to-end diagnosis for the best-in-class treatment.
End-to-end treatment
Considering the situation and severity of the injury, doctors at Cutis Hospital prescribe the proper medication to save the incision from getting infected and aid the patient in faster recovery.
Proper hygiene facilities
In order to guarantee the patient's safety, it is also essential to maintain the cleanliness of the staff, the environment, and the surgical equipment. Cutis maintains strict hygiene standards to ensure the patient's safety and cleans all equipment after each use.
Comfortable environment
We strive to create a comfortable environment for our patients with the proper management & process in place, end-to-end diagnosis & treatment backed by robust security.
The most complicated task is to diagnose the Scaphoid fracture as it cannot be diagnosed right after the injury through an X-Ray. To be seen in an X-Ray, the fracture needs to reach the recovery stage, i.e., after approximately 2 weeks.
Although improbable on its own, carpal tunnel syndrome may be brought on by a scaphoid fracture. The most common cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is a combination of circumstances. It can include rheumatoid arthritis, a hyperactive pituitary gland, wrist inflammation from an accident, and more. Identifying a single cause of carpal tunnel syndrome can often be challenging.
Treatment for a scaphoid non-union fracture is influenced by a number of variables, including the patient’s age, tobacco usage, other health problems, and fracture pattern. The therapy goals are to reduce pain, maximize function, and avoid arthritis.
The recovery time depends on the treatment method the doctor chooses. Generally, it takes a minimum of 1-2 months to recover completely.
A person has to face excruciating pain, and as the body loses its ability to heal the fracture due to which, it’ll be impossible to regain the real potential of the hand.
You will most likely need to wear a plaster cast for 9 to 12 weeks if the fracture is discovered right away and is in perfect coordination. Cast will cover your forearm, wrist, and thumb, which is required to keep the scaphoid bone motionless while it heals.
Your doctor might advise you to spend additional time in the cast if the injury is relatively new, or they might also propose an electrical stimulator. The scaphoid bone receives a modest electrical current from this device, which is worn like a big bracelet for 10 to 12 hours daily to aid bone healing.
We provide effective surgical and non-surgical treatments for all parts of the body. At Cutis Hospital, our cosmetic and plastic surgery team is committed to giving patients safe and high-quality care.
