Fractured scaphoid - how long to heal?
Discussion
6 weeks when I did mine......or so they thought!
5 years and numerous x-rays and consultations ending with a CT scan showing up that it was actualy STILL fractured, they took some bone from my pelvis and grafted it to the scaphoid with a screw in for good measure, that was around 20 odd years ago and never had a problem since.
5 years and numerous x-rays and consultations ending with a CT scan showing up that it was actualy STILL fractured, they took some bone from my pelvis and grafted it to the scaphoid with a screw in for good measure, that was around 20 odd years ago and never had a problem since.
I fractured mine a few years back, maybe when I was 20. It is difficult to see on an x-ray so they put you in a plaster cast for a couple of weeks then x-ray again. If confirmed they re-do you in a more solid cast for 6 weeks. My freind got plastered for two weeks then had it taken off as they could not see anything.
I got the full 6 weeks extra in the cast and I had buggered mine
Damaged on a Saturday night, plastered on the Sunday (arm not me) into work Monday. re-x-rayed and set for 6 weeks
I got the full 6 weeks extra in the cast and I had buggered mine
Damaged on a Saturday night, plastered on the Sunday (arm not me) into work Monday. re-x-rayed and set for 6 weeks
Edited by Cotty on Monday 2nd August 22:18
Most bones heal in about 6 weeks, once you come out of plaster your wrist and thumb will be stiff and may need physiotherapy. Some scaphoid fractures have delayed union (takes longer than normal to heal) or even fail to heal requiring surgery at a later date.
Please remember there is a high possibility that you won't be insured to drive if you have a plaster cast insitu or even with the knowledge of a broken bone in your hand.
Please remember there is a high possibility that you won't be insured to drive if you have a plaster cast insitu or even with the knowledge of a broken bone in your hand.
Cotty said:
Bin bags are handy to tape to your arm so you can shower without getting it wet.
I fell over when pissed, you?
Yeah, something like that. I fell over when pissed, you?
The X-rays don't show anything, however the (sadly unfanciable) but car nut Italian doctor I saw today says he's 100% sure the scaphoid is broken.
Drat.
mobi said:
Most bones heal in about 6 weeks, once you come out of plaster your wrist and thumb will be stiff and may need physiotherapy. Some scaphoid fractures have delayed union (takes longer than normal to heal) or even fail to heal requiring surgery at a later date.
Please remember there is a high possibility that you won't be insured to drive if you have a plaster cast insitu or even with the knowledge of a broken bone in your hand.
Thanks.Please remember there is a high possibility that you won't be insured to drive if you have a plaster cast insitu or even with the knowledge of a broken bone in your hand.
mobi said:
Mobile Chicane said:
The X-rays don't show anything, however the (sadly unfanciable) but car nut Italian doctor I saw today says he's 100% sure the scaphoid is broken.
Drat.
What's the plan? Are you currently in plaster/ splint?Drat.
Mobile Chicane said:
Splint with appointment at Fracture Clinic in 10 days time. What 'should' be happening? Sorry to pester but I've no idea.
That's the normal follow up plan for a possible fractured scaphoid. They will reassess you and then if still painful over the scaphoid they will rexray you. Scaphoids fractures don't always show up clearly on an initial xray but in 10 days they will normally show up where the bone is healing.If the bone is fractured you will be put into a scaphoid plaster which will remain insitu for approx 6 weeks. Make sure you wear the splint whenever you have been told to, scaphoid fractures can be quite problematic in the long term.
mobi said:
Mobile Chicane said:
Splint with appointment at Fracture Clinic in 10 days time. What 'should' be happening? Sorry to pester but I've no idea.
That's the normal follow up plan for a possible fractured scaphoid. They will reassess you and then if still painful over the scaphoid they will rexray you. Scaphoids fractures don't always show up clearly on an initial xray but in 10 days they will normally show up where the bone is healing.If the bone is fractured you will be put into a scaphoid plaster which will remain insitu for approx 6 weeks. Make sure you wear the splint whenever you have been told to, scaphoid fractures can be quite problematic in the long term.
Apparently it's a new type of splint which A&E aren't familiar with and have no idea how to put on, however I'd say I've achieved a greater degree of stability to the thumb than they have.
Problem?
Taking the splint off at night is correct, the splint is really more for support than anything, which in turn aids pain relief. The problem with the splints is that they are quite stiff when taken out of the packaging, as time goes on they soften up a little and are easier to get a comfortable fit.
mobi said:
Taking the splint off at night is correct, the splint is really more for support than anything, which in turn aids pain relief. The problem with the splints is that they are quite stiff when taken out of the packaging, as time goes on they soften up a little and are easier to get a comfortable fit.
Thank you.(You're not kidding about the pain relief.)
Edited by Mobile Chicane on Tuesday 3rd August 00:58
Did mine playing football in April - flew out on holiday early the next morning, so didn't have it seen to for 3 weeks (I thought I'd just sprained my wrist).
On return from holiday it was really hurting so I went to a&e. The doctor told me "it's just a sprain".
I didn't believe him as the pain was almost unbearable, so I went private and within 5 minutes of being at the hand clinic I'd been diagnosed with a broken scaphoid!
Within a week it had been pinned, and my wrist is now pretty much back to normal. Took 6-8 weeks to heal.
A friend also had his scaphoid break "missed" by the doctors, only for the bone to deteriorate over the next few months to the point where he then required a bone graft. He can hardly bend his hand back now!
On return from holiday it was really hurting so I went to a&e. The doctor told me "it's just a sprain".
I didn't believe him as the pain was almost unbearable, so I went private and within 5 minutes of being at the hand clinic I'd been diagnosed with a broken scaphoid!
Within a week it had been pinned, and my wrist is now pretty much back to normal. Took 6-8 weeks to heal.
A friend also had his scaphoid break "missed" by the doctors, only for the bone to deteriorate over the next few months to the point where he then required a bone graft. He can hardly bend his hand back now!
mobi said:
Please remember there is a high possibility that you won't be insured to drive if you have a plaster cast insitu or even with the knowledge of a broken bone in your hand.
The solution is to talk to your insurers. They will ask if the doctors are happy for you to drive... So ask the doctors in advance but phrase the question so you're asking them whether they're happy you won't cause any problems for the fracture. They can't make a judgement on whether you're safe, only you can 
FWIW I was in plaster for 11 weeks but driving after two, and skiing after 8
I had an MRI because it didn't look like it was healing but ultimately I've had no problems since.Aargh!
Update: the scaphoid isn't fractured - or at least an immediate X-ray plus another 10 days later showed no sign of it - the current diagnosis is a bad sprain. Six weeks on it is much, much better, the bruising has gone and I can drive (with a splint on).
However I still don't have the full range of movement in my thumb, and there is a hard swollen area approximately over where the scaphoid is.
Could this be a dislocation? Or just bruising deep in the joint restricting movement and causing swelling? Would a dislocation be evident on the X-rays, even if the Drs weren't specifically looking for this?
Any advice would be much appreciated, since I'd rather not have to go back and bother A&E unnecessarily.
Thanks.
[NB: Since it had improved greatly in a month, I unfortunately discharged myself from the 'follow-up' system thinking the problem had been solved. To 'get back in' will involve seeing my GP - a tortuous process.]
Update: the scaphoid isn't fractured - or at least an immediate X-ray plus another 10 days later showed no sign of it - the current diagnosis is a bad sprain. Six weeks on it is much, much better, the bruising has gone and I can drive (with a splint on).
However I still don't have the full range of movement in my thumb, and there is a hard swollen area approximately over where the scaphoid is.
Could this be a dislocation? Or just bruising deep in the joint restricting movement and causing swelling? Would a dislocation be evident on the X-rays, even if the Drs weren't specifically looking for this?
Any advice would be much appreciated, since I'd rather not have to go back and bother A&E unnecessarily.
Thanks.
[NB: Since it had improved greatly in a month, I unfortunately discharged myself from the 'follow-up' system thinking the problem had been solved. To 'get back in' will involve seeing my GP - a tortuous process.]
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