{"id":10255,"date":"2019-09-05T16:04:47","date_gmt":"2019-09-05T16:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=10255"},"modified":"2021-06-28T15:17:44","modified_gmt":"2021-06-28T15:17:44","slug":"15-common-causes-of-scaphoid-fracture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/15-common-causes-of-scaphoid-fracture\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Common Causes of Scaphoid Fracture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you\u2019re a fan of forensic and criminal procedure shows, then it\u2019s likely that you\u2019ve already heard of a scaphoid fracture \u2013 but if you\u2019ve never heard of it before, the first thing that you should know is that it\u2019s one of the most common types of fractures out there, and it refers to a bone located near the wrist that\u2019s called the scaphoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many different ways in which a scaphoid fracture can occur, including as a consequence of stopping a fall with the hands and bracing the impact with the wrist instead and as a consequence of activities that strain the wrist and bones of the hand such as weightlifting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually, scaphoid fractures are immediately put into a cast for six to eight weeks to heal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many scaphoid injuries can be avoided with care: Here are 8 common causes of a scaphoid fracture that can help you to know when you\u2019re at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Consequence of Weightlifting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most common way in which people pick up a scaphoid fracture<\/a> is usually through a direct fall that\u2019s stopped with the hands, transferring the impact of the fall directly to the scaphoid bone. Obviously, this isn\u2019t the only possible activity that can place this amount of strain on the scaphoid bone, and it can also sometimes happen as a consequence of lifting too much weight with the wrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most obvious career or sport where this is a danger is during weightlifting, but it can also happen to anyone else who lifts too much weight too fast. If you work in a career where lifting heavy boxes or bags is a part of the job, then you\u2019re at risk for a scaphoid fracture, and could also be at risk of other career-related fractures and long-term injuries or conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you feel strain in your hands, arms or wrist \u2013 particularly at the base of the thumb \u2013 see a medical professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Gymnast\u2019s Injury<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Scaphoid fractures generally occur when one stops a particularly violent fall with the hands: The impact transferring through to the wrists is what causes the scaphoid fracture, and it leads to almost immediate pain, swelling <\/a>and might have dark bruising associated with it \u2013 considerably darker than what one would consider a \u201cnormal\u201d bruise from a bump \u2013 and this bruising can occur on either or both sides.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a gymnast takes an incredible amount of effort from the body, and sometimes this can lead to injuries; it might happen during practice or it might take place during a huge national event \u2013 but it usually happens when someone misses a move or step, and then braces for impact with the wrists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though gymnasts are trained in how to fall properly during events like these to avoid injury, injuries still happen regardless, and scaphoid fractures are a particularly common injury related to gymnasts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Direct Impact Injury<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many ways in which direct impact injuries <\/a>can occur, but it can be split into the categories of either the affected body part hitting into something, or something else hitting into the body part first. Direct impact injuries that happen with a flat or slightly angled hand are likely to cause a scaphoid fracture due to the way in which the pressure gets transferred.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These types of direct impact injuries can take many forms, including the most usual way of needing to stop a fall and doing it out of instinct \u2013 with the hands. They can also happen during, for example, an assault where someone is hit with an open strike \u2013 or during a swimming match, when someone hits the side of the swimming pool with the hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of direct impact injuries are almost like a fall \u2013 and transfer the same impacts \u2013 but in different ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Ball-Sports Related Injury<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sports sees thousands of injuries happening every single year, and these injuries aren\u2019t just restricted to professionals in sport \u2013 they can happen during any school or college team game too; they can even happen during a routine practice session or run.  It also doesn\u2019t usually matter which type of sport we\u2019re talking about: There are injuries in every type of career and sport that you can possibly imagine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we\u2019re talking about a scaphoid fracture, it commonly occurs in certain ball-sports. Where hitting the ball with the hands are involved in the game it can present a serious injury risk: Again, just like a fall, the impact is transferred from the hand through to the wrist, causing the scaphoid fracture<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sports practitioners whether professional or not will usually have to take things easy for as much as eight weeks after their injury, and should always see their doctor before continuing sports after sustaining or healing a scaphoid fracture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Boxing-Related Injuries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Boxing is a sport that sees thousands of injuries every single year \u2013 and when we\u2019re not talking about professional boxing, many of these injuries can still take place during other arena games like MMA fighting, or during any instances where impact is absorbed directly with the hands, palms or arms. During these contact sports, it\u2019s usually the contact which leads to the injury, and scaphoid fractures (along with the classic \u201cboxer\u2019s fracture\u201d) are some of the most common ones seen in boxing and other contact sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whenever impact is transferred through to the hands, whether through a palm strike or a bad fall, it risks a scaphoid fracture \u2013 and you\u2019ll usually be able to tell with the associated pain, discomfort <\/a>and swelling afterward. Boxers and other sportsmen will usually have to refer to their personal trainer and physiotherapist for the best advice and course of treatment \u2013 as well as to know when it\u2019s safe to go back to the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Contact Sport Palm-Strikes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Contact sports don\u2019t just include boxing, but can also include ones like karate \u2013 and here, some injuries are especially common. One of these injuries is the scaphoid fracture, and it usually happens due to the open palm strike that\u2019s seen in a lot of martial arts<\/a> \u2013 but can also happen during any fall that\u2019s stopped with the hands first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martial arts and contact sports practitioners are usually taught how to brace for impact during a fall, and how to strike effectively to prevent injuries like these happening in the first place; this doesn\u2019t stop the fact that they do. It\u2019s impossible to tell when accidents might happen, and not even the best sportspeople can prepare themselves for every single instance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of a scaphoid fracture, stopping exercise is one of the most important things to do \u2013 and from there, immobilization of the hand and wrist for eight weeks or more. Sometimes surgery is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Stopping a Fall<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common ways in which you can pick up a scaphoid fracture is through stopping a fall with the hands outstretched; the pressure from trying to stop the fall (and your entire body weight) comes down on the hands and wrists <\/a>\u2013 causing the associated injury. If this has happened, swelling and pain will be the first symptoms, and dark bruising of the wrist can be considered common (although bruising doesn\u2019t occur with all fractures).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other symptoms can include loss of feeling in the hands, and extreme pain when trying to move the wrist (or sometimes the complete inability to). It\u2019s a myth that \u201cyou can\u2019t move it if it\u2019s broken\u201d – some fractures still allow for movement, although it\u2019s excruciatingly painful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s best to have any potential breaks, fractures and injuries looked at by a professional as soon as they happen in order to be sure of the injury\u2019s extent and what should be done to treat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Long-Term Use of Crutches<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Falling isn\u2019t the only manner in which impact can transfer to the wrists, hands and subsequently to the scaphoid bone<\/a>. Sometimes the long-term use of crutches can also cause injuries, one of which can be a scaphoid bone fracture over time \u2013 or sometimes even bone growths on top of this due to the added stress on the bones of the hand while walking with crutches.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This type of injury can also happen to you if you are suddenly made to walk with crutches (for example, after surgery or for healing another sprain) and you absorb too much impact with crutches by taking a wrong step. The pressure transfers to the wrist, and can in extreme cases be enough to cause a scaphoid fracture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pain felt at the base of the thumb together with associated swelling is one of the first possible symptoms that it could be a scaphoid bone fracture or break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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