Occluded fracture?

[ketch]

Well It's official I am not a fan of ladders. Last week I spent a week at a HS camp as climbing and outdoor sports person by day and tech geek by night. While setting up, the ladder I was using broke at the top and I took a 6' ride to the ground. All is good save a sprained wrist. Other than the kids feeling it was funny that the extreme guy got hurt on a little ladder.

 

Anyway the next day my wrist felt funny for a sprain and I go to see the Doc. He concured on the sprain but felt there was a possibility of what I think he called an occluded fracture. He explained that in this type injury one of the carpals has a blood vessel that gets pinched off. This leads to that bone essentially dying for lack of supply. Does anyone out there know about this sort of injury? Any good advice?

 

Thanks a bunch

[Billygoat]

I guess that means Mt. Constitution headwall is out of the question in the short term.

 

Sorry about your accident. I never heard of bones dying or the implications of that. But I never studied above EMT-B. PM Icegirl, she's a doc.

 

Cheers

 

Goat

 

[ketch]

Hey Goat, Don't write that one off yet. I go in next week to see whats up and am shooting for the quick recovery. Maybe we can go looking for stuff it's still a pleasant hike for a summer afternoon.

[marylou]

Icegirl, she's a doc.

 

Actually, she's not a doc, but knows a ton about orthopedics and has access to ortho docs at her work.

[carolyn]

Did the dr say anything about preventing the bone from dying?

I work with a little boy who avascular necrosis in his hips. Basically his hip bones are dying. Its hard to know what kind of pain he is in because of his mental level or how much is caused by his hips.

Definately see if there is any form of prevention.

 

Sorry for your pain!

[ketch]

Ya the Doc did. I guess there is a graft that can be performed. The hard part for me is that this type of damage is infered by the particular injury. They take some shots then put me in this odd splint that you are to wear for two weeks and then new shots. Any change in the bone implicates its loss of blood flow.

 

Just for you interested types out there. The doctor concured with my original diagnoses as a sprain. All the external indications were the same. What was differant and indicative, was that the next morning I noticed an interesting phenomona. When I had a cup of coffee or a glass of juice my fingers went numb for about 30 -45 min. The Doc explained that with this odd injury that the swelling is somewhat internalized and that a change in hydration causes the swelling to intrude on the carpal tunnel causing numbness.

 

I still have no input on healing but do know a new thing to look for in the future.