Do I need a cast for a scaphoid fracture?

If your break is mild and your scaphoid didn’t move far out of place (if it’s non-displaced), you might only need a splint or cast. Splinting usually lasts for three to five weeks. If you need a cast, it’ll likely be for longer, typically six to eight weeks.

Can you move thumb with scaphoid fracture?

Signs and Symptoms Most people with a scaphoid fracture (which is the same as a broken wrist) will have pain and/or swelling along the thumb side of the wrist within days following a fall. Because there is no visible deformity and no difficulty with motion, many people with this injury assume that it is a wrist sprain.

How painful is a scaphoid fracture?

Scaphoid fractures usually cause pain and swelling in the anatomic snuffbox and on the thumb side of the wrist. The pain may be severe when you move your thumb or wrist, or when you try to pinch or grasp something. Unless your wrist is deformed, it might not be obvious that your scaphoid bone is broken.

Can you work with a scaphoid fracture?

You should avoid heavy tasks with your injured hand for six weeks. You can return to driving once your cast has been removed and you feel confident to do so. This is usually after six weeks.

What is the fastest way to heal a broken scaphoid?

Casting. A nondisplaced fracture in the waist or distal pole of your scaphoid that’s treated soon after injury can be treated by immobilizing your wrist with a cast for six to 12 weeks. Once an X-ray shows the fracture is healed, the cast can be removed.

Is a scaphoid fracture serious?

A scaphoid fracture can lead to wrist osteoarthritis, especially if the fracture is untreated and does not heal correctly. This is called “nonunion.” Severe cases of this kind of osteoarthritis can lead to an incorrect alignment of wrist bones in what is called scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse (SNAC).

Can a scaphoid fracture heal in 4 weeks?

Wolfe, MD, commended the researchers’ efforts. “This paper certainly outlines the difficulty in generalizing our treatment of the scaphoid and confirms that there is a subset of nondisplaced fractures that have a likelihood to heal within 4 weeks,” he said.

Can scaphoid heal in 4 weeks?

The length of healing time depends on the location of the fracture in the scaphoid. Distal scaphoid fractures (closer to the thumb) can heal much quicker (6 weeks) however fractures in the proximal aspect of the scaphoid (further away from the thumb) can take much longer (3 months or more) to heal.

How long should a scaphoid fracture be immobilized?

Scaphoid waist fractures with moderate displacement (0.5–1.5 mm) can be treated conservatively, but require prolonged cast immobilization for approximately eight to ten weeks. Internal fixation is recommended for all scaphoid waist fractures with dislocation ≥ 1.5 mm.

How do you know if a scaphoid fracture is healing?

At this point, a healing fracture will characteristically become more visible on X-rays because the normal healing process leads to removal of some of the jagged edges of the broken bone, causing the fracture to appear wider. Special views that are specific to the scaphoid may also be taken.