Wrist Sprain vs Scaphoid Fracture: Know the Difference to Get the Right Treatment

Have you ever fallen on your outstretched hand and felt a sharp pain in your wrist? If so, you might have wondered if you sprained or fractured your wrist.

Both injuries are common and can cause similar symptoms, such as swelling, bruising, and weakness. However, they also have some key differences affecting their diagnosis and treatment.

In this blog, we will tell you what a wrist sprain and a scaphoid fracture are, and what to do if you have either of them.

The Difference Between Wrist Sprain And Scaphoid Fracture

Both injuries can cause pain, swelling, and limited movement of the wrist, but they have some differences in how they are diagnosed and treated.

Wrist Sprain

A wrist sprain is an injury to the ligaments that connect the bones in the wrist, and it can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of damage. A mild sprain may heal with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE), while a moderate or severe sprain may require a splint, cast, or surgery to stabilize the joint.

There is a type of wrist sprain that affects the scapholunate ligament, which connects the scaphoid and the lunate bones in the wrist called scaphoid sprain. It causes scaphoid pain, but no fracture and can be diagnosed by a physical examination or an X-ray.

Scaphoid fracture

A scaphoid fracture is an injury that happens in the wrist when a small bone near the thumb breaks or cracks. This bone has a poor blood supply, which makes it prone to delayed healing and complications such as failure to heal or bone death.

A scaphoid fracture may not show up on an initial X-ray, so your doctor may require additional tests like an X-ray, a CT scan, or an MRI to confirm the diagnosis. A scaphoid fracture usually requires a cast or surgery to fix the bone and prevent further damage.

Symptoms & Test

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a wrist sprain and a fracture. However, there are some clues that can help you distinguish them.

Some possible scaphoid fracture symptoms:

Pain and swelling in the wrist just below the base of the thumb.
Difficulty with pinching, grasping, pushing, and pulling.
Bruising or discoloration of the wrist.
A deformity or bump that is not normally on the wrist.
Tingling or numbness in the fingers

Some signs that your wrist may be sprained are:

The pain is mild to moderate, and you may experience a sensation of popping or tearing at the time of the injury.
The wrist looks normal or slightly swollen.
The swelling is gradual and mild.
You can move your wrist, but it is painful or uncomfortable.

Scaphoid Fracture Test

A scaphoid fracture test is a way to check if you have a broken scaphoid bone in your wrist. There are several tests that can help diagnose a scaphoid fracture, such as:

Snuffbox tenderness: This is when you feel pain in the hollow area on the back of your wrist, near the base of your thumb, when you press on it.
Pain with supination against resistance: This is when you feel pain in your wrist when you try to turn your palm up against resistance, such as a table or a wall.
Pain with longitudinal compression of thumb: This is when you feel pain in your wrist when you squeeze your thumb towards your palm as if you are making a fist.
Scaphoid tubercle tenderness: This is when you feel pain on the front of your wrist, near the base of your thumb, when you press on a small bump called the scaphoid tubercle.
Scaphoid compression tenderness: This is when you feel pain in your wrist when you press on the scaphoid bone from both sides as if you are squeezing it.

You can have this scaphoid fracture test at home, but it is better to see a doctor as soon as possible to get the proper diagnosis and treatment. Keep in mind that these tests are not 100% accurate, and some people may have a scaphoid fracture without any of these signs.

Scaphoid fracture treatment

Scaphoid fracture treatment depends on the location and severity of the fracture, as well as the patient’s preference and activity level. It can include wearing a cast or splint on your wrist for a long time to help the bone heal or surgery to insert a screw or pins to fix the broken bone and stabilize the joint.
Know More:

Consult Dr. Ehab Aldyami for treatment for Wrist Sprain and Scaphoid Fracture.

If you have a wrist injury or want to prevent one, you should consult Dr. Ehab Aldyami, a hand specialist with over 20 years of experience in treating wrist conditions. He can offer you the best advice and care for your wrist health.

Don’t let your wrist pain stop you from enjoying your life. Contact Dr. Ehab Aldyami today and get the treatment you deserve.

FAQs

How do you know if my wrist is sprained or fractured?

There are some clues that can help you distinguish them, such as the severity of pain or swelling and whether there is a bump or deformity on the wrist.

Can you move your wrist if your scaphoid is broken?

It depends on the severity and location of the fracture, but in general, you may have some difficulty moving your wrist or thumb if your scaphoid is broken.

What can be mistaken for a scaphoid fracture?

A scaphoid fracture can have mild symptoms, such as pain, swelling, and tenderness, that may be similar to other wrist injuries, such as a sprain, strain, Scapholunate ligament injury, or Distal radius fracture.