Sports injuries of the wrist

Abstract

Sports injuries involving the hand and wrist are common and, as a result, many different practitioners (athletic trainers, physical therapists, primary care physicians, general orthopedic surgeons) will encounter these injuries. In addition to thorough evaluation, an understanding of typical pathologies seen in the athlete enhances diagnosis and facilitates appropriate, expedient management. These injuries are complex because they can be either acute traumatic or repetitive in origin and often involve both the bony skeleton and soft tissues. This article provides a review of athletic injuries to the wrist with particular focus on physical evaluation and management of the most common and challenging fractures and soft tissue injuries.

Fig. 1

Carpal tunnel view is obtained with maximal wrist extension and x-ray beam oriented 15 degrees from the palm. The white arrow shows a normal pisiform and black arrow shows a minimally displaced hook of the hamate fracture. (Reproduced with permission of Dr. Fufa, personal files)