RESUMO
Injuries of the wrist, a complex joint, are common in recreational sports. Often, the clinical diagnosis made is the vague "wrist strain or sprain" unless a fracture is seen on x-ray. A thorough assessment, however (as described in part 1), may reveal any of various injuries and syndromes, including scaphoid fractures, scapholunate dissociation, ganglion cysts, or ligamentous or tendon injuries. Treatment ranges from immobilization to corticosteroid injections to surgical repair of a fracture or underlying cause.
RESUMO
The wrist is a complex joint and a common site for injury in virtually every type of recreational activity. This article describes a workup that will lay the groundwork for a diagnosis more specific than wrist sprain or strain. Instructions are given for taking a detailed history, palpating the five zones of the wrist, performing provocative maneuvers, giving diagnostic injections, and obtaining imaging studies. Plain x-rays of both wrists may be sufficient to diagnose a fracture or subluxation, but if x-rays are negative and a fracture is still suspected, other imaging studies may be needed. Diagnosis and management of wrist injuries will be described in part 2.
RESUMO
As more primary care physicians enter the field of Sports Medicine, they will inevitably encounter more injured young athletes than what they may have experienced in their private practices. Recognizing the differences that exist between the young athlete and adult is essential in properly diagnosing and rehabilitating these athletes. As mentioned in our previous article (Caring for the School-Aged Athlete, Primary Care, December 1994), comprehensive care of the young athlete can be quite involved and somewhat different from care of the adult population. This article focuses on some specific injuries unique to younger, skeletally immature athletes, while mentioning the differential diagnosis of some of the other common sports injuries shared by both younger and older athletes.
