Things That You Should Know About Wrist Sprains
Wrist sprains are a common type of injury that may affect men and women of all ages. A wrist sprain is said to have occurred when the strong ligaments supporting a wrist are stretched beyond their maximum limits. This usually takes place when a wrist is twisted or bent forcefully, such as when caused by falling onto the outstretched hand. Wrist sprains can range from mild to severe, and medical intervention depends on the severity of the sprain itself.
The wrist is made up of ligaments and when a wrist sprain is said to have occurred, it can cause tears and stretches within the fibers of the ligaments. The ligaments are fibrous tissues that are strong and help to connect the different bones. Ligaments present in the wrist area play an important role in keeping all the bones in their correct positions. They also stabilize the joint and enable a person to use the hand smoothly. When wrist sprains occur, they make it difficult for the joint to function in a normal manner.
There are various grades associated with wrist sprains. The grading depends on the nature, extent and severity of the sprain.
Let’s have a closer look at them.
- Grade 1 sprain: The mild cases of wrist sprains are included in Grade 1. In these cases, the ligaments tend to get stretched in a major way but they are not torn.
- Grade 2 sprain: These are moderate cases where the ligaments are only partially torn. Such injuries may lead to loss of function to some extent.
- Grade 3 sprain: The Grade 3 cases include severe instances of sprain. The ligament gets completely torn due to injury. In some instances, the ligament may be pulled off from its attachment to the bone. Such injuries are quite significant and usually require surgical care. In case the ligament effectively tears away from bone, it can remove a small part of the bone along with it. Such a condition is referred to as avulsion fracture.
Symptoms of wrist sprains
There are a wide range of symptoms that are associated with a wrist sprain. Some of them include
- Serious pains
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Tenderness to touch
- A sensation of warmth just around the wrist
- A sensation of tearing or popping inside the wrist
If you experience even a moderate level of injury, it is important that you get it checked out by a doctor or medical expert. A wrist injury may seem to be mild from outside with only minimal swelling. However, it can still involve torn ligaments and may require surgery to avoid any long term problems. In some cases you may only have a moderate sprain but underneath it all there can be a fracture. Therefore it is best to consult a doctor.
The treatment of wrist sprains may include both surgical and non-surgical methods, which is decided by the medical expert based on the intensity of the condition.
