Carpal fractures: Difference between revisions

m (Rossdonaldson1 moved page Wrist Fracture to Carpal fractures)
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Revision as of 22:37, 17 November 2014

Background

Carpal bones
  • Scaphoid fractures account for 70% of all carpal fractures
  • Ulnar nerve damage associated with fractures of hamate or pisiform
  • 50% of pisiform fx associated with injury to distal radius or other carpal bone
  • If bone fragment seen posterior to carpus on lateral, very likely triquetrum fx

Specific Fractures

Carpal fractures

AP view

Overview

Carpal Bone Mechanism of Injury Examination ED Management
Scaphoid FOOSH Snuffbox tenderness;
pain w/ radial deviation/flexion
Short arm, thumb spica, in dorsiflexion w/ radial deviation
Triquetrum

1. Avulsion fracture: twisting of hand against resistance or hyperextension

2. Body fracture: direct trauma

Tenderness at dorsum of the wrist, distal to the ulnar styloid Short arm, sugar tong splint
Lunate FOOSH Tenderness at shallow indentation of the mid-dorsum of wrist, ulnar and distal to Lister tubercle Short arm, thumb spica splint
Trapezium Direct blow to thumb; force to wrist while dorsiflexed and radially deviated Painful thumb movement and weak pinch strength; snuffbox tenderness Short arm thumb spica splint
Pisiform Fall directed on hypothenar eminence Tender pisiform, prominent at the base of hypothenar eminence Short arm, volar splint in 30 degrees flexion and ulnar deviation
Hamate Interrupted swing of golf club, bat, or racquet Tenderness at hook of hamate, just distal and radial to the pisiform Short arm, volar wrist splint with 4th and 5th metacarpal joints in flexion
Capitate Forceful dorsiflexion of the hand with radial impact Tenderness over capitate just proximal to the third metacarpal Short arm, volar wrist splint
Trapezoid Tenderness over radial aspect of base of index metacarpal Short arm thumb spica splint

Imaging

Source

  • UpToDate
  • Accident & Emergency Radiology
  • Tintinalli

See Also