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Painful Wrist. History Of Hairline Fracture. Healed Radius. Reconsultation Required?
My 17 year old son has a hairline fracture on his right radius that he got while playing hockey. He was in a cast for 4 weeks. His finger nails did not grow on his right hand. He had the cast taken off April 11. He range of motion is improving but he rates his pain a 7 or 8 out of 10 when he uses his wrist. He is having physio therapy. Should he have it recheck by his doctor. I am worried that he may have broken his scaphoid or tore a ligament also. When he got the cast off the doctor told him the Radius is completely healed. He plans to play hockey May 4th. should he be seen again before that.
Fri, 19 Apr 2013
Hi,
Thanks for writing to HCM,
For a hair-line fracture a 4 week cast is usually sufficient followed by regular physiotherapy over a period of time which will improve the range as well as strength of weakened muscles, stretching exercises will definitely improve the tight soft tissues.
with the above mentioned therapy the pain should gradually reduce.
If there would scaphiod fracture the first x-ray would have shown that, and ligament injury can be suspected only after knowing the exact mechanism of injury but if you want to rule it out completely an MRI scan will give you a detailed picture, and for this You can definitely consult your orthopaedician again for a review.
I would suggest you to take suggestions from your ortho as well as your physio before participating in any sports activity.
i hope this helps
wish your son a speedy recovery
Thanks for writing to HCM,
For a hair-line fracture a 4 week cast is usually sufficient followed by regular physiotherapy over a period of time which will improve the range as well as strength of weakened muscles, stretching exercises will definitely improve the tight soft tissues.
with the above mentioned therapy the pain should gradually reduce.
If there would scaphiod fracture the first x-ray would have shown that, and ligament injury can be suspected only after knowing the exact mechanism of injury but if you want to rule it out completely an MRI scan will give you a detailed picture, and for this You can definitely consult your orthopaedician again for a review.
I would suggest you to take suggestions from your ortho as well as your physio before participating in any sports activity.
i hope this helps
wish your son a speedy recovery
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