Scaphoid Fracture in Chinchwad: Wrist Pain After a Fall

A scaphoid fracture is a break in a small wrist bone near the base of the thumb, usually after a fall on an outstretched hand. Doctors usually advise a check if pain at the thumb side of the wrist does not go away within a day, even when the swelling is mild.

Key takeaways

• A fall on an outstretched hand can break the scaphoid, a small bone at the thumb side of the wrist.
• The pain can be mild, so people often call it a sprain and carry on.
• A scaphoid fracture does not always show on the first X-ray.
• So a splint and a repeat check are common when the doctor suspects one.
• A bent wrist, numb fingers or fingers that will not move need emergency care straight away.

In this article

• What a scaphoid fracture is
• The sign people ignore
• Why the first X-ray can look normal
• What to do today
• How it is treated
• The carousel, slide by slide
• When to go to emergency
• Consultation near you
• Questions patients ask

In the week before Diwali, many families are up on stools and ladders. A slip and a hand thrown out to break the fall can hurt the wrist. Many of these wrists are only sprained. However, some hide a small break that is easy to miss.

Diwali falls on 8 November this year, and across PCMC many homes are putting up akash kandils and lights.

What is a scaphoid fracture?

The scaphoid is one of eight small bones in the wrist. It sits on the thumb side, just below the base of the thumb. When you fall and land on an open palm, the force passes through this bone. As a result, it can crack.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a scaphoid fracture usually causes pain and swelling just below the base of the thumb. The pain often gets worse when you pinch, grip, push or pull.

Which scaphoid fracture sign do people ignore?

The sign people ignore is pain in the hollow at the thumb side of the wrist that does not settle. Press gently on that spot after a fall. If it is clearly tender, mention it to a doctor.

• Pain at the thumb side of the wrist, not across the whole wrist
• Pain when you grip a cup, twist a lid or wring a cloth
• Little swelling, so it feels like a simple sprain

Because the swelling can be mild, many people rub in a pain balm and keep working. Then the wrist is still sore a week later.

Why can a scaphoid fracture be missed on the first X-ray?

A fresh crack in this bone can be very fine. The AAOS notes that a scaphoid fracture does not always show on an X-ray right away. It often becomes visible later, once the bone starts to heal.

Also, the NHS guidance on suspected scaphoid injury advises a splint and a follow-up check when the wrist is tender in this spot. So a normal first X-ray does not always mean a normal wrist. In some cases, an MRI can show the break earlier.

What should you do today after a fall on the hand?

• Support the wrist and keep the hand raised.
• Use ice wrapped in a cloth for short spells.
• Avoid lifting, gripping hard or leaning on the hand.
• Get an orthopaedic examination if the thumb side of the wrist stays painful.

These first steps match the NHS advice on a broken arm or wrist: support it, avoid using it, and hold ice wrapped in a towel to the area.

Next time you climb, ask someone to hold the ladder. Also, keep both feet on a stable step and avoid stretching too far to one side.

How is a scaphoid fracture treated?

Treatment depends on where the crack is and whether the pieces have moved. Many breaks that have not moved heal in a cast or splint. However, the AAOS explains that some parts of this bone have a poor blood supply, so they heal more slowly. A break that has moved may need surgery to hold it in place.

Early treatment helps avoid problems later, such as a bone that does not join. After the cast comes off, our physiotherapy team works on grip and wrist movement.

Is every wrist fracture the same?

No. A break at the end of the forearm bone is more common, especially in older adults with weak bones. Read our guide on wrist fracture after 50 for that injury.

This video, about a collarbone fracture after a fall, shows how a “simple” fall injury can need proper care:

The carousel, slide by slide

Save these slides, or send them to someone who is hanging lanterns at home for Diwali.

When does wrist pain need emergency care?

Go to an emergency department straight away if, after a fall:

• The wrist looks bent or out of shape
• The fingers are numb, cold or pale
• You cannot move the fingers
• There is a wound over the injury

Our orthopaedic emergency care team in Chinchwad sees fall injuries through the day.

Scaphoid fracture check near you in Chinchwad and Wakad

Chinchwad: First Floor, Plot GP 116, Sambhaji Nagar Road, near HP Pump, near Rotary Club, G Block, MIDC, Chinchwad, Pune 411019. Call 91586 80739.

Wakad: Unit 401–402, 4th Floor, MI Commercia Building, Wakad, Pune 411057. Call 91687 46986.

Patients come from Chinchwad, Pimpri, Akurdi, Nigdi, Ravet, Wakad, Hinjewadi, Pimple Saudagar, Thergaon, Tathawade, Punawale, Moshi and Bhosari. See our orthopaedic clinic at Chetna Hospital.

Scaphoid fracture: questions patients ask

Can I move my wrist and still have a scaphoid fracture?

Yes. Many people can still move the wrist. The clue is pain at the thumb side of the wrist, especially when gripping or pinching.

Why did my doctor give a splint when the X-ray was normal?

Some breaks in this bone do not show on the first X-ray. A splint protects the wrist until a repeat check or scan confirms what is going on.

Does a scaphoid fracture always need surgery?

No. Many breaks that have not moved heal in a cast or splint. Surgery is considered when the pieces have moved or the break is in a part of the bone that heals slowly.

How soon should I visit a doctor after a fall on the hand?

See a doctor if the thumb side of the wrist is still painful the next day. Go to emergency straight away if the wrist looks bent or the fingers are numb.

Where can I get a wrist injury checked in Chinchwad or Wakad?

The Spine & Orthopaedics department at Chetna Hospital sees patients at First Floor, Plot GP 116, Sambhaji Nagar Road, Chinchwad, Pune 411019 (call 91586 80739). There is also a clinic at Unit 401–402, MI Commercia Building, Wakad, Pune 411057 (call 91687 46986).

Sources

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo. Scaphoid fracture of the wrist.
• Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust. Suspected scaphoid injury.
• NHS. Broken arm or wrist.

This article is general information, not a substitute for a consultation.

How this article was prepared: Chetna Hospital’s content team wrote it with the help of AI writing tools and checked it against the sources listed. It is general health information, not personal medical advice.