eMedicine Specialties > Sports Medicine > Wrist and Hand

Wrist Dislocation: Follow-up

Author: Kadeer M Halimi, DO, Department of Emergency Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center
Coauthor(s): Derek K Lichota, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Senior Staff, Department of Orthopedics, Division of Sports Medicine, Scott and White Memorial Hospital
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Aug 21, 2008

Follow-up

Return to Play

Athletes with wrist injuries, including wrist dislocations, are advised not to return to play until full recovery has been achieved.

Complications

  • A missed or late diagnosis may lead to complications.
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome may result.
  • Malunion or nonunion may occur. This is a misnomer because no fracture occurs; therefore, malunion or nonunion is not technically possible. Stiffness may be present. On rare occasions, late instability or apposition of the carpal bones may occur.
  • Degenerative joint disease is possible.

Prevention

Wrist injuries can be prevented by implementing proper technique; maintaining good strength; maintaining good flexibility; and, if the sport permits, using wrist guards.

Prognosis

If the diagnosis is established early (<3 mo) and if the proper treatment is administered, the prognosis of wrist dislocations is excellent.

Education

Athletes should be educated about how to recognize wrist injuries. Seeking early medical attention for wrist injuries is important and should be emphasized to athletes. Proper technique, flexibility, and strengthening should also be emphasized.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

Related Medscape topics:
Resource Center Medical Malpractice and Legal Issues
Resource Center Trauma
Specialty Site Neurology & Neurosurgery
Specialty Site Orthopaedics

 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous coauthor Dr Thomas Russell Jones to the development and writing of this article.



More on Wrist Dislocation

Overview: Wrist Dislocation
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Wrist Dislocation
Treatment & Medication: Wrist Dislocation
Follow-up: Wrist Dislocation
Multimedia: Wrist Dislocation
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

wrist dislocation, wrist pain, dislocated wrist, dislocation of wrist, lunate dislocation, perilunate dislocation, scapholunate dislocation, hyperextension injury of the wrist, carpal bone injuries, carpal injury, ballottement test, volar tilt test, dorsal tilt test

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Kadeer M Halimi, DO, Department of Emergency Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center
Kadeer M Halimi, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Derek K Lichota, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Senior Staff, Department of Orthopedics, Division of Sports Medicine, Scott and White Memorial Hospital
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Craig C Young, MD, Professor, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Community and Family Medicine, Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Fellowship Director, Medical College of Wisconsin
Craig C Young, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, Phi Beta Kappa, and Wilderness Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Russell D White, MD, Professor of Medicine, Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Truman Medical Center Lakewood
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Jon B Whitehurst, MD, Clinical Instructor of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine; Partner and Executive Board Member, Rockford Orthopedic Associates; Orthopedic Chairman, Rockford Memorial Hospital
Jon B Whitehurst, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Sherwin SW Ho, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Chicago
Sherwin SW Ho, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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