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CONTACT US FOR A FREE FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS!
For a limited-time only, we are offering a FREE functional analysis
at both our locations.
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Beverly Hills
9301 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California 90210
West Hills
7301 Medical Center Drive
West Hills, California 91307
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INSURANCE & WORKERS' COMPENSATION
ACCEPTED!
We accept most types of insurance
providers and specialize in the treatment of workers'
compensation injuries to the hand and upper extremity. |
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Wrist Sprain
Causes & Types of Wrist Sprains
Treatment of a Sprain
Chronic Injuries
Other Injuries
Recovery from Injury
The Future
Ligaments are what hold bones together, and when these tissues are
injured, a strain results.
Back to the Top
| Causes & Types of Wrist Sprains |
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Wrists sprains are a common injury and are often caused by sporting
activities or everyday falls. Wrist sprains often occur when the hand
is held out to break or cushion a fall and the wrist is bent back
upon impact with the ground. In sports such as skiing, snowboarding,
or football, sprains are a common injury. When a sprain occurs, the
wrist usually swells up and is rather painful, especially when moved.
The ligament that is usually sprained is the scapho-lunate ligament,
which runs between the scaphoid and lunate bones in the wrist. There
are a lot of bones in the wrist, so many ligaments are needed to hold
them together. Unlike the scapho-lunate ligament, however, these other
ligaments are not injured as often. Minor wrist sprains may just stretch
the ligament slightly; more serious sprains can actually rupture the
ligament.
Back to the Top
| Treatment of a Sprain |
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If a sprain is suspected, your hand doctor will
start off by examining your wrist to see how well it moves,
where it hurts, and whether it is stable. To see if there are
any fractured bones and how they are positioned, x-rays are
usually taken. Additionally, an MRI may be taken to confirm
the hand surgeon's diagnosis.
If the wrist is sprained, you'll likely have a splint or cast
placed around it to prevent movement. However, surgery may be
a possibility as well. The surgery can be performed in a traditional,
open, or arthroscopic manner. |
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If arthroscopic surgery is performed,
several small cuts the size of a grain of rice will be made around
the wrist and a tiny camera will be inserted through them to examine
the bones and ligaments and possibly treat them.
If arthroscopic surgery isn't an option, open surgery may be needed
to repair the injured ligament. Surgery is used if the bones need
to be held in place by metal pins, screws, or plates, after which
a splint or cast is placed on the wrist to prevent movement that could
cause further injury. The splint or cast is usually worn for six to
twelve weeks after surgery.
Back to the Top
| Chronic Injuries |
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If the injury is an old one that happened several months or years
ago, it is referred to as a chronic injury. To treat this, the ligament
may be repaired or restored as if it were a new injury if there is
little damage to the cartilage. If the cartilage has been damaged
and has become arthritic, the symptoms will be much the same as a
sprain, and there will be swelling, stiffness, and pain.
Treatment of the arthritis usually starts with splints and anti-inflammatory
medications, or even cortisone injections. If these don't work,
surgery may be performed. Your hand surgeon will suggest the best
course of treatment for you. For example, a partial or complete
wrist fusion, removal of the affected bones, or replacement of the
wrist may be suggested.
Back to the Top
| Other Injuries |
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Whenever the ligaments in the wrist receive enough trauma to be sprained,
other injuries are possible. The bones that make up the wrist, particularly
the scaphoid, may have been fractured when the ligaments were injured.
The cartilage that lines the joints in the wrist may also have been
damaged, and this injury won't show up on x-rays. Surgery to correct
either of these conditions may be necessary, in addition to that done
to repair the injured ligament, and screws, pins, or plates may be
surgically inserted to hold the wrist stable.
Back to the Top
| Recovery from Injury |
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Even with the best and quickest treatment after the sprain by your
hand surgeon, sometimes the wrist remains swollen, stiff, or sore
for a long time. This is because of how the wrist is made up and the
precise and delicate organization of bones, ligaments, and cartilage
that allow it to move. Any injury to that carefully arranged system
can affect its fine structure and use.
Back to the Top
| The Future |
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Ways to better repair and correct wrist sprains, and the ligaments
and other parts of the wrist involved, are constantly being researched.
Using strong tendons to
reconstruct the injured ligament or transferring ligaments from the
hands or feet to replace it are just two procedures your hand surgeon
can use that are showing promising results.
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