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What is it?
Acute wrist pain is generally an injury causing inflammation to, or a partial or complete tear of the ligaments of the small bones in the wrist.
Symptoms
Sudden onset of pain and swelling in the wrist, usually occurring in association with a specific injury or event.
Incidence
Relatively uncommon. Although the symptoms may be relatively minor, this is frequently a relatively severe injury.
Key Points - History
Mechanism of Injury – Fall, trauma, implement, twisting injury, duration of symptoms, activity
Pre-existing pathology
Hand dominance and occupation
Red flag conditions include:
Significant trauma
New deformity
Neurological or vascular complications
Fever
Severe unrelenting, night time pain
Patient over 50 years of age
Weight loss
History of cancer
Intravenous drug use
Yellow flag conditions include:
Attitudes and beliefs about pain
Emotions
Behaviour
Family
Compensation issues
Work
Diagnostic and treatment issues
Workplace conflict
Possible alternate duties:
No repetitive/tight gripping with the affected hand
Maximum lift 5 kgs
Avoid overhanging gripping with the affected hand
Avoid using the affected hand
Avoid using impact or vibration tools with the affected hand
When to Consider Referral for a Specialist Opinion:
The presence of any red flag conditions
The worker has had more than two weeks certified unfit for duties, or more than one month on selected duties
The worker has had more than three weeks off work, or on selected duties and has significant yellow flag conditions
Not back at pre-injury duties within six weeks of the injury