Scaphoid fracture

[chocaholic38]

Fell on to outstretched hand 8 weeks ago.
X-ray at A&E suspected scaphoid but couldn't find fracture.

Was splinted for 2 weeks and back for X-ray, still couldn't see a fracture! So was put in a cast for 2 weeks back for X-ray again where they thought they might be able to see something although still unsure so put in cast for 4 weeks.

At hospital today, cast taken off X-ray still clear but still got pain in certain movements so been told I need an mri, just wondering if anyone has been through similar? I would of thought after 8 weeks surely something would of shown on an X-ray?

Scaphoid is a tricky one to image, it can be almost invisible on x-ray but so MRI or CT should be used as a next line if they still suspect fracture but I thought there was a push at many sites to do this earlier.

MRI would be my preference here - if there isn't a visible fracture / resorption visible at 8 weeks, a scaphoid fracture is less likely (but not impossible), MRI will show some other potential causes of pain - scapholunate ligament injury, TFCC tear etc, whereas a CT may not (unless they do a PET-CT).

For the reasons above - most places xray initially, re-xray at 2 weeks if still painful, and, if that's normal go straight to CT/MRI.

Thank you both. Hopefully won't have too long a wait for the MRI and find out exactly what Iv done

@chocaholic38 i hope you don’t mind me jumping on here. I was looking for some advice.

My daughter broke her wrist 4 weeks ago. On the xray it was also picked up there was some shadowing at the scaphoid but they never told me at the time.

We returned to hospital last week to get cast removed, more X-rays/CT scan (on scaphoid) and to discuss with orthopaedics. They told me about the scaphoid and said a radiologist has found a crack going through the middle so she needed to be recasted and the consultant would be in touch later on that day.

the consultants secretary called to say there is no break, it’s fine and that my daughter needed to come in to hospital to get the cast off.

this has been a week and my daughter is still in some pain around the scaphoid area, no pain at the wrist where the actual break was. Did you still have pain around the scaphoid weeks after the fall? I’m just worried she’s been missed and there is an actual break. What did your MRI say?

thanks!

Fell. Hurt wrist. Heard something snap. Felt nauseous for a few seconds.. Locum GP suspected fracture and sent me for an X ray. A single X ray was taken and was told no fracture.
Increasing pain over next two weeks to the extent I had to immobilise my wrist. Did something I don't normally do and consulted a orthopedic site on Google specialising in wrist injuries. Back to my GP to say I think it was a fracture of the scaphoid bone. He agreed and, as I had private Health cover, I saw a specialist 2 days later.
Four x-rays were taken, Surgeon said that the scaphoid had been broken but had now healed with a hole inside and thus I would have to be admitted for bone to be taken from my pelvis to be used to repair my wrist! Three days in a morphine haze in hospital!
Scaphoid bone fractures are difficult to see but are one of the most common fractures in the wrist, Hopefully the MRI will identify the problem OP.

My MRI came back clear, I was then referred to physio as I still couldn't move my wrist properly and still had a lot of pain in my scaphoid area.

Physio thinks it was possibly nerve damage rather than a break. Was sent home with exercises and it's now over a year since the initial fall and my wrist still isn't right. Although I was told it could take a year to heal. But I still can't put my wrist into certain positions, couldn't do a press up for example.