Treatments & Conditions | Hand Microsurgery in Erie, PA

Wrist Sprains

A sprain is an injury to a ligament. Ligaments are strong bands of connective tissue that connect one bone to another. There are many ligaments in the wrist that can be stretched or torn, resulting in a sprain. This occurs when the wrist is bent forcefully, such as in a fall onto an outstretched hand. A few common symptoms experienced include:

• Swelling in the wrist
• Pain at the time of the injury
• Persistent pain when you move your wrist
• Bruising or discoloration of the skin around the wrist
• Tenderness at the injury site
• A feeling of popping or tearing inside the wrist
• A warm or feverish feeling to the skin around the wrist

Wrist sprains can range from mild to severe. They are graded, depending on the degree of injury to the ligaments. Sometimes, a wrist injury may seem mild with very little swelling, but it could be that an important ligament has been torn that will require surgery to avoid problems later. Wrist sprains are most often caused by a fall onto an outstretched hand. This might happen during everyday activities, but frequently occurs during sports and outdoor recreation.