Wrist and Hand Injuries

Tenosynovitis: De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is an overuse injury characterized by thickening and swelling of the tendons that run from the base of the thumb into the wrist and forearm. The tendons involved move the thumb away from the hand.

Repetitive gripping with your hand and bending of your wrist is thought to be the cause of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. This can happen in racket sports, such as tennis or racquetball, golf, or any activity where you grip with your hand and bend your wrist over and over again, such as lifting a child. It also can occur from repetitive blows to the area, such as when bumping a volleyball with improper technique.

Symptoms: Severe pain that might worsen when gripping or squeezing or moving your hand or wrist, swelling, tenderness, bruising or deformity of hand

Intersection syndrome: Intersection syndrome is a condition that affects the first and second compartments of the dorsal wrist extensors. The condition is thought to occur as a result of repetitive friction at the junction in which the tendons of the first dorsal compartment cross over the second, creating a tenosynovitis. This condition is associated with the frequent and repetitive use of the wrist and it is more common in athletes.

most commonly it is seen in sports such as rowing, racket sports, weight lifting, golfing etc

Symptoms: Patients with intersection syndrome have pain and swelling on the back of their wrist and forearm above their thumb that is worse with movement. They may also have swelling at the site of tendon irritation. The symptoms of intersection syndrome are very similar to De Quervain’s, and the difference is often found by physical examination.

Jammed finger: A jammed finger is a sprain of the ligaments supporting the joint. This injury is sometimes known as Basketball Finger since it often occurs when the hand comes into contact with the ball. This condition can range from a mild sprain to complete dislocation. Small ligaments called the collateral ligaments support the PIP joint. A jammed finger may occur when these ligaments are overstretched or strained.

Jammed fingers are a common sports injury, especially in sports where the hand absorbs the impact of the ball, such as basketball, baseball, and volleyball.

A jammed finger occurs when the tip of a person’s finger presses forcefully against the hand. This action can cause the ligaments in a person’s finger to become overstretched or strained.

A jammed finger causes swelling, difficulty moving the finger, and pain. The duration of the swelling will depend upon how severe the injury is. Other signs of a jammed finger include:

• pain, but usually not severe
• stiffness
• weakness, or difficulty holding onto an item
• redness and swelling

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS): One of the nerves on the wrist called the “median nerve” passes through a tunnel in the wrist called the carpal tunnel. When athletes put pressure on their wrists (like when doing handstands in gymnastics or when leaning on handlebars in cycling), the median nerve can get inflamed, irritated or damaged. The median nerve controls muscle strength and skin sensation over specific parts of the hand and wrist.

It controls a few small muscles at the base of the thumb and sensation to the palmar side of the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the ring finger. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by repetitive pressure on the wrist and/or injury to the wrist, as with a wrist fracture.

Symptoms

• Numbness, tingling, pain and/or weakness of the hand, particularly movements of the thumb
• These may occur anytime, but are most common during or shortly after activity and at night