[valve bouncer]

The boy came home from rugby today with some strapping on the wrist, wasn't complaining but said it hurts a bit so I got some ice on it. From his description it sounded scaphoidish to me and I did the test where you put your thumb on the heel of his palm with his palm down then rotate his hand/wrist/arm. If it's a scaphoid there'll be a clunk.

Well there was a click rather than a clunk a little pain but nothing too uncomfortable but from my reading sometimes scaphoids are initially not particularly painful but problems may occur later. Am I over-reacting in wanting to take him for an x-ray? Anyone here presented with little or no pain only to find out later it was more serious or will you pretty much know right away? Boy is 13 fyi.

I typically wildly over-react in these situations and it's a Sunday tomorrow so it's a bit of a mission going into the hospital. I'll see how it pulls up tomorrow but I'd be interested to hear your experiences, recommendations in the meantime. Cheers all.

 

[5150dhbiker]

I'd go to a hospital on Monday for sure. If that bone is broken it will take a long time to heal. My wrist was in a cast for almost 4 months plus I had to use a bone stimulator thing as well.

That break really does not hurt much until they put the cast on honestly. I broke my scaphoid riding MX (broke it in two places) and didn't go get xrays until 4 days after the crash. If it's not treated and healed properly, the wrist will feel fine and function fine for a bit but at some point would then need surgery, etc. At least that's what I'm told by doctors.

I have 3 friends that have broken theirs (all from dh, moto and snowboarding) and one ignored it for a couple months. He then was in a lot of pain and had to have it re-broken plus surgery and it put him out of racing for 7 months total.

 

[LokiLopez]

I broke mine when I was 13 also and it hurt like hell, it also swollen up pretty bad. If it was broken he would be complaining I'd say.

Also, on the first set of x-rays I did they couldn't see the crack on the bone, I had to get my hand on different positions (a month later) for them to pick it up.

Hope it turns out for the best and that nothing is broken.


Update: based on 5150dhbiker's post, maybe you should x-ray it.
Mine was just a small crack, don't remember it properly but I do remember that it wasn't that painful when I cracked it but after a couple hours it was. For me it was cast for 10weeks and a summer of physio.

 

[5150dhbiker]

I broke mine when I was 13 also and it hurt like hell, it also swollen up pretty bad. If it was broken he would be complaining I'd say.

Also, on the first set of x-rays I did they couldn't see the crack on the bone, I had to get my hand on different positions (a month later) for them to pick it up.

Hope it turns out for the best and that nothing is broken.

Thats so strange...mine didn't hurt and was just stiff. Actually, I was pretty hopped up on pills on the drive back from the track so maybe it did hurt...no clue.

But ya, if they do x-rays make sure they do it in a few positions. At first they didn't catch mine either, went to a different doctor and he found the two breaks.

 

[gonefirefightin]

ice it in the mean time and one ibuprofen for swelling if any, kids are hard on fractures so try and splint it as best as possible until you get him into x ray. sam splints work pretty good for this type of injurys on the kiddos.

 

[Toshi]

Go get some films done. Mention to the ER doc specifically about your concern about the scaphoid--there are special views that can show injury a bit better. Also, LokiLopez is right: sometimes it's not visible on the first set, but delayed images a few weeks later can show the fracture.

 

[Damo]

It's your kid man! Go get an xray for peace of mind at least!

I spent 4 months in a cast molded around my handlebars so I could continue racing. Don't let him be as stupid as me. Let it heal properly or there'll be issues for years...

 

[eaterofdog]

The scaphoid only gets blood from one side, if you break it, half of the bone can die and decay.

 

[drkenan]

Mine also was not visible on the x-ray, even though it was completely broken. It's a sucky injury for various reasons and you really have to let it heal properly.

 

[Jeremy R]

Go get some films done. Mention to the ER doc specifically about your concern about the scaphoid--there are special views that can show injury a bit better.

This is true, but you are more likely to see a mermaid blowing a unicorn on the drive to the hospital than to have an ER doc find a scaphoid break.
I had two different doctors xray it in 10 different ways and they told me it was not broken.
Then I went to a hand specialist who took 2 xrays and showed me the two places it was broken within 10 minutes of me being there.

 

[valve bouncer]

This is true, but you are more likely to see a mermaid blowing a unicorn on the drive to the hospital than to have an ER doc find a scaphoid break.
I had two different doctors xray it in 10 different ways and they told me it was not broken.
Then I went to a hand specialist who took 2 xrays and showed me the two places it was broken within 10 minutes of me being there.

The trouble and strife is also making this arguement, go on Monday when we can see the specialist. She also wants to go shopping today so that could have some bearing on her thoughts.

 

[Toshi]

This is true, but you are more likely to see a mermaid blowing a unicorn on the drive to the hospital than to have an ER doc find a scaphoid break.
I had two different doctors xray it in 10 different ways and they told me it was not broken.
Then I went to a hand specialist who took 2 xrays and showed me the two places it was broken within 10 minutes of me being there.

I wouldn't trust an ER doc's "reading", either. Luckily, that's why my specialty exists. Scaphoid view + official reading from the radiologist, not the ER doc, is the way to go.

 

[Potroast88]

Just cut that pesky hand off and install an awesome hook.

 

[valve bouncer]

Just cut that pesky hand off and install an awesome hook.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a decent hook these days?

 

[SkaredShtles]

Rub some dirt on it.

 

[Westy]

Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a decent hook these days?

Exactly why prosthetic chainsaws rule.

 

[valve bouncer]

Exactly why prosthetic chainsaws rule.

Prosthetic chainsaws seem cool and all but you know what 98.7% of people with prosthetic chainsaws end up doing? Ice sculpting. Enough said.

 

[TreeSaw]

I wouldn't trust an ER doc's "reading", either. Luckily, that's why my specialty exists. Scaphoid view + official reading from the radiologist, not the ER doc, is the way to go.

I'd go and have it check out just to be sure too!

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

I fractured mine when I was 12 and went to the hospital 3 weeks later when it still annoyed me a bit. By then it was too late to do anything I guess. Still clicks to this day (13 years later).

 

[valve bouncer]

Well that was a monumental waste of time. It may or may not be injured, couldn't say for sure from the x-ray apparently, if it's still hurting in a week come back. MRI time I reckon.

 

[Nerf Herder]

Sooo ... did the chainsaw option become a workable option ...

The blood flow, dead bone thing is what always makes me get a pic taken when I land on the hands ... I've done the left once and the right twice and relatively speaking it didn't hurt as much I guess ... but it still had swelling and I knew there was something going on in there.

Good luck and hope she is OK

*edit ... damn no chainsaw ... bah

 

[5150dhbiker]

Rub some dirt on it.

Or spray some windex on it.