The possible fractured wrist

[debih]

I've just picked up the paperwork from the local hospital to take with us to the fracture clinic on Monday.

The xray was obviously forwarded to the main hospital and was looked at by someone in the Radiology Dept. It says "there is a probable fracture to the waist of the schaphoid. The probable fracture is only demonstrated on the DP projection of the hand and wrist".

I don't like that word probable.

[debih]

Oh god. Google is a dangerous thing.

I've just googled fracture to the waist of the scaphoid and it says the healing is more difficult as these areas of the scaphoid do not have a good blood supply. If it is treated with a cast then the cast will probably include the thumb and come up above the elbow.

Or the doctor may recommend surgery where they put in metal screws and wires which remain in place until it has set.

And whether you have surgery or not you may have to wear a splint or cast for up to SIX MONTHS.

[Diflower]

Oh Lord, the poor girl - and poor you too
There will be an awful lot she can't do... xx
How probable is 'probable', d'you reckon? Is someone else still looking at it to decide?

[Workingman]

I broke mine when walking the dog. He spotted something and decided to go chase, but the way I had his lead he bent my thumb almost off!

Thirteen weeks in a cast with my thumb and wrist in an awkward position and from the first knuckle on my fingers all the way to my elbow. I then spent about two months with a removable and lightweight wrist cast.

I hope hers is more of an easy option Debih.

[meriad]

ouch!!!

and yes - google can be one's worst nightmare at times.

[debih]

I don't know how probable probable is! But I think its more probable than it was last time!!

A few months ago I was called to school as she had hurt her ankle (you probably remember - I think I was moaning about school calling me for ever little thing). I picked her up and off we went to the minor injuries unit where they said it was sprained. Three days later she was still in loads of pain so we went back and they xray-d it. Only the nurse at the minor injuries department looked at it that time and said she thought that not only was it fractured but that L had an extra bone in her foot. She sent us off with an appointment to the fracture clinic the next day. Got there only to be told, once the orthopedic doctor had looked at it, that no it wasn't fractured and no she doesn't have an extra bone. It was just badly sprained and would take weeks to get better (it did).

This time the xray has been looked at by the radiologist rather than the nurse. Though it still hasn't been looked at by the orthopedic doctor - that'll happen on Monday. So there is still a good chance that we will get there to be told it is fine. Although, the nurse (and google) did say that a scaphoid fracture often doesn't show up until 10 to 14 days after the accident.

[debih]

L doesn't know yet - she was at school when the nurse rang.

I have rung school to tell them though and to tell them that she will be late in (or possibly not in) on Monday.

The receptionist said that she will have to use the lift if it is fractured.

[Workingman]

Debih, did the wrist overextend forward or backwards and was there any sideways movement?

Mine was overextended forward with my thumb pulled under and across my palm. It was originally thought that it was a bad sprain with ligament damage over the back of my wrist. It eventually turned out to be a compression fracture to the front of the scaphoid, looking at it palm side - hence the awkward cast.

I feel for L because whether it is a break or a bad sprain it can still take ages to heal and she will get frustrated at how debilitating it can be, esp at this time of year

[Aggers]

Debih - tell the poor girl that we are all wishing her well and sending her healing vibes.

[debih]

Debih, did the wrist overextend forward or backwards and was there any sideways movement?

Mine was overextended forward with my thumb pulled under and across my palm. It was originally thought that it was a bad sprain with ligament damage over the back of my wrist. It eventually turned out to be a compression fracture to the front of the scaphoid, looking at it palm side - hence the awkward cast.

I feel for L because whether it is a break or a bad sprain it can still take ages to heal and she will get frustrated at how debilitating it can be, esp at this time of year

I can't remember what she said! I think she went down straight onto the palm and the wrist over extended forwards. She got grazes on the inside of her wrist. Not sure about the sideways movement - can't recall what she told the nurse.