Musculoskeletal problems of the wrist and hand classification

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Classification

Fracture
- Immediate severe pain and swelling
- Colle’s fracture
  - Fracture of distal radius; most common, easily seen on X-ray
- Scaphoid Fracture
  - May require special X-ray views to visualize
Ligament Rupture or Tear
Tendon Injury

Inflammatory Arthritis
- Septic, crystal-induced, rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Pain with movement of wrist through its range of motion
- Synovitis with swelling in setting of inflammatory entities
Osteoarthritis
- Rarely involves wrist except for carpometacarpal (CMC) joint at base of thumb
Osteonecrosis (avascular)
- Localized pain interfering with hand/wrist function
Entrapment Syndromes
- Wrist pain radiating into hand or forearm, +/- sensory or motor deficits
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Ulnar or interosseous nerve entrapment
Tenosynovitis
Ganglion Cyst
Referred Pain from Cervical-Spine/Shoulder
- Pain in absence of local findings
- Symptoms worsened by neck/shoulder movement