Wrist

Ganglion Cyst

Ganglion Cyst is a noncancerous, fluid-filled lump that commonly develops along tendons or joints, especially in the wrist or hand.

Definition: A soft, round, or oval swelling filled with thick, jelly-like fluid, usually found near joints or tendons, most often on the back of the wrist.
Causes: Exact cause is unknown; may result from joint or tendon irritation, trauma, or repeated stress.
Types:

~ Dorsal Wrist Cyst: Most common, on back of the wrist
~ Volar Wrist Cyst: On the palm side of the wrist
~ Flexor Tendon Cyst: Along tendon sheaths in fingers or hands

Symptoms: Visible lump (may vary in size), mild pain or pressure, worsens with activity, may cause limited joint movement.
Diagnosis Tools: Physical exam, transillumination (light test), ultrasound or MRI if deep or unclear.
Risk Factors: Women (20–40 years), joint overuse, prior wrist injury, repetitive hand activities.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition where the median nerve gets compressed at the wrist, causing numbness, tingling, and hand weakness.

Definition: Compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel, affecting the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger.
Causes: Repetitive hand or wrist movements, prolonged typing or tool use, wrist injury, swelling from conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, or pregnancy.
Types:

~ Mild: Occasional numbness or tingling
~ Moderate: Frequent symptoms, disturbed sleep, hand weakness
~ Severe: Muscle wasting and constant numbness

Symptoms: Numbness, tingling, or burning in the thumb and fingers, hand weakness, clumsiness, or dropping objects, worse at night or with hand use.
Diagnosis Tools: Physical exam (Phalen’s test, Tinel’s sign), nerve conduction studies, EMG, ultrasound or MRI if needed.
Risk Factors: Repetitive hand use, pregnancy, diabetes, thyroid disorders, arthritis, obesity, and female gender.

Distal Radius Fracture

Distal Radius Fracture is a common wrist injury involving a break near the end of the radius bone, often from falling on an outstretched hand.

Definition: A break in the distal (lower) part of the radius bone, close to the wrist joint, which may or may not involve the joint surface and can affect hand and wrist function.
Causes: Falls, accidents, direct impact, overuse, or underlying bone disease.
Types of Fractures:

~ Colles’ fracture: Dorsal displacement (most common)
~ Smith’s fracture: Volar displacement
~ Intra-articular fracture: Involves wrist joint
~ Extra-articular fracture: Does not involve joint

Symptoms: Wrist pain, swelling, visible deformity, bruising, and limited movement or grip strength.
Diagnosis Tools: X-rays (primary), CT scan for complex or joint-involved fractures.
Risk Factors: Osteoporosis, elderly age, high-impact activities, poor balance.

Dequervains Tenosynovitis

De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is a painful condition affecting the tendons at the base of the thumb, often caused by repetitive thumb or wrist movements.

Definition: Inflammation of the tendon sheath of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, leading to pain and restricted motion.
Causes: Repetitive wrist/thumb movements, overuse (e.g., lifting, texting, typing), direct injury, or inflammatory conditions like arthritis.
Types of Severity:

~ Mild: Occasional pain with use
~ Moderate: Frequent pain with swelling and limited function
~ Severe: Persistent pain with restricted thumb movement

Symptoms: Pain and swelling at the thumb base, worsens with gripping, twisting, or lifting.
Diagnosis Tools: Clinical examination (Finkelstein’s test), ultrasound (if needed), imaging to rule out other causes.
Risk Factors: Repetitive hand use, new or expecting mothers, manual laborers, arthritis, women aged 30–50.

TFCC Injury

TFCC Injury refers to damage to the triangular fibrocartilage complex, a key structure on the ulnar side of the wrist, leading to pain, instability, and reduced wrist function.

Definition: Injury to the cartilage and ligaments that support the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) and ulnar side of the wrist, affecting stability and movement.
Causes: Falls on an outstretched hand, forceful twisting (like using tools or sports), repetitive wrist motion, or gradual wear due to aging and joint degeneration.
Types of Injury:

~ Traumatic: From sudden impact or force

~ Degenerative: Due to wear and tear over time

Symptoms: Pain on the ulnar side of the wrist, clicking or popping, weakness, reduced grip strength, and difficulty with rotation.
Diagnosis Tools: Clinical exam (TFCC compression test), MRI for confirmation, arthroscopy in complex cases.
Risk Factors: Athletes (gymnastics, racket sports), aging, repetitive wrist strain, previous wrist fractures.

Scapho-Lunate Ligament Injury

Scapho-Lunate Ligament Injury is a tear or sprain of the ligament connecting the scaphoid and lunate bones in the wrist, leading to pain and instability.

Definition: Damage to the scapho-lunate ligament, which maintains proper alignment and motion between the scaphoid and lunate bones.
Causes: Fall on an outstretched hand, sudden wrist trauma, or repetitive stress.
Types of Injury:

~ Partial Tear: Ligament is stretched but not fully torn

~ Complete Tear: Ligament is fully ruptured, causing bone separation

Symptoms: Pain in the central or thumb side of the wrist, swelling, weakness, clicking, or instability with motion.
Diagnosis Tools: X-ray (may show widened gap), MRI, or wrist arthroscopy for confirmation.
Risk Factors: High-impact activities, untreated wrist injuries, manual labor, or sports involving frequent wrist use.

Scaphoid Fracture And Non Union

Scaphoid Fracture and Non-Union involves a break in the scaphoid bone of the wrist, with non-union referring to failure of the bone to heal properly over time.

Definition: A fracture of the scaphoid bone near the base of the thumb, which may result in non-union (failure to heal) due to poor blood supply to the area.
Causes: Fall on an outstretched hand, sports injuries, accidents, or delayed diagnosis.
Types of Fractures:

~ Acute Fracture: Recent injury with clear fracture line

~ Non-Union: Persistent gap at fracture site after several months

~ AVN (Avascular Necrosis): Bone death due to disrupted blood supply

Symptoms: Pain in the base of the thumb or snuffbox area, swelling, tenderness, reduced grip strength, limited motion, and chronic discomfort in non-union cases.
Diagnosis Tools: X-ray, MRI, or CT scan to assess fracture, healing status, or avascular necrosis.
Risk Factors: Delayed treatment, smoking, poor blood flow, displacement of the fracture, and high-impact activities.

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