Hand and wrist sprains are some of the most common injuries we see here at our orthopedic offices in East Tennessee. If you’ve sprained your wrist or hand, come see us ASAP. Though most sprains do not require medical intervention, severe sprains may require surgery to restore the use of the hand. Don’t wait. The sooner you get treatment, the sooner you can start feeling better.
A sprain occurs when the ligaments that hold the bones together stretch or tear. Most hand and wrist sprains happen when someone falls and tried to catch themselves with an outstretched hand. Hand and wrist sprains can also occur from a direct blow or hyperextension.
The first symptom of a wrist sprain is usually pain. In addition to pain in the hand or wrist, you’ll also likely experience the following symptoms:
If you have incurred a fall or sports injury and think you have sprained your wrist or hand, come in and see us as soon as possible. Once under care, your provider will do several tests to determine whether or not your wrist or hand is sprained, look for any breaks, and determine the right treatment for you.
Sprains are categorized into three different grades depending on severity. The type of treatment you’ll receive for your sprain depends on its severity.
Grade I – Minor damage to the ligament.
Grade II – More severe damage to the ligament than Grade I, with some loss of function and a feeling of looseness in the joint.
Grade III – Completely torn ligament, severe looseness in the joint, and loss of function.
You’ll be happy to know that most minor to moderate sprains heal on their own without medical intervention. If you’re found to have a Grade I or Grade II sprain, your doctor will likely recommend the treatments for sprains listed below:
If your hand or wrist sprain is Grade III, and one or more ligaments in your hand or wrist are completely torn, surgery may be necessary to reattach the ligament and restore the motion of your hand or wrist. Wrist sprain surgery generally involves either reattaching the ligament to the bone or using a graft to reconnect the ends of a torn ligament back together. Recovery from hand or wrist sprain surgery generally lasts about eight to 12 weeks.