Wrist Injury - Unsure of Severity

Hi guys,

Last night I was playing basketball with a couple of my friends.  At one point I had a fast break to the goal so I thought I might as well show off and dunk it (turned out to be an idiotic idea).  I guess I hung on too long or my hand slipped but my legs went out in front of me and I put my arms down to catch my fall.  I slammed both my wrists hard on the wood floor and for a good 2-3 minutes I knelt there while I watched my hands shaking on their own.  They soon started swelling up and it's been this way through the night.  I don't feel any pain when my hands are immobilized, but my movement has been restricted by a lot.  I can move my hands up and down, but the side to side movement is almost imperceptible as it sends shooting pain down my arm.  I also cannot fully extend my fingers on my left hand as they start shaking and there is pain on my lower hand.  Finally, I cannot extend my thumb nor bend it in without shooting pain as well.

I'm going to see the doctor tomorrow but does anyone have an idea about what type of injury this is? I'm really hoping it's a sprain but worse case scenario it could be fractured or broken.  Thanks.

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

This appears to be more serous than a sprain. Likely possibilities include fractures, tendon/ ligament injuries, nerve impingement/ trauma/ pressure etc. Without an evaluation and probably a few tests like imaging studies, it would be difficult to tell though. It would be best to get this examined by an orthopedician at your earliest convenience, to rule out the mentioned possibilities and appropriate management.
Hope this helps.

Take care!

[Indy95]

Thank you for the reply!

I checked with my physician and had x-rays taken.  I have also made appointments with my local orthopedic.  Results came in last night and it seems I have a tiny chip fracture on my left ulnar styloid.  My physician recommends just a splint, would you say that there would be a strong possibility that any surgery would be needed?  Also, I've been playing the violin for 6 years now, so an injury is a major setback in terms of practice.  How long would you say I need to recover before I can take up practicing again?

Thank you!

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

If it is just a tiny chip fracture and does not involve the articular surface, surgery would not be required and a splint should be good; though it would be best to consult an orthopedician for an accurate recommendation after an evaluation. You should be able to resume normal activities within 4-6 weeks.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!