A member asked:

Whats could be wrong with my wrist? i fractured (chipped) the bone by my wrist and i've been having problems with it since. i believe it has to do with it being out for two weeks after it happened. could i have done something to the tendons and ligaments

3 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Dr. William Strinden answered

Specializes in Plastic Surgery

There : There are so many variables in this question that it is hard to be very precise. There are many bones in the wrist, and it is very significant which bone, precisely is chipped. When you say it was "out" for two weeks, do you mean that it was dislocated for two weeks? A bone chip on x-ray often means that a ligament was pulled off the bone, taking a piece of the bone with it. It is a bad circumstance if the ligament has pulled off a bone chip and the x-ray shows it to be separated by a distance from the bone, because in this case the ligament/bone chip cannot ever heal back to the bone without surgery, and the associated joint is apt to be lax and pop, clunk, grind, or be painfully unstable. This needs to be seen by an appropriate surgeon. It sounds like something which, at the very least, needs initial splinting/casting for 6 weeks and then re-examination. The probable need for future surgery is high.

Answered 10/3/2016

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Dr. Jeffrey Wint answered

Specializes in Hand Surgery

The : The most common "bone chip" is a small capsular avulsion on the ulnar side of the wrist. These can be casted but can also be trated with splinting alone. These often take 4-6 weeks to feel better. A chip or avulsion does mean that the bone was pulled off or avulsed by the ligament or tendon that attaches to it. Other chips involve the scaphoid or trapezoid and other bones, it depends a lolt upon what the injury actually is.

Answered 10/3/2016

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Dr. Jeffrey Wint answered

Specializes in Hand Surgery

The : The most common "bone chip" is a small capsular avulsion on the ulnar side of the wrist. These can be casted but can also be trated with splinting alone. These often take 4-6 weeks to feel better. A chip or avulsion does mean that the bone was pulled off or avulsed by the ligament or tendon that attaches to it. Other chips involve the scaphoid or trapezoid and other bones, it depends a lot upon what the injury actually is to say more. A chip can also mean the wrist was dislocated and reduced or that a significant ligament injury occurred...But again the most common thing os a small insignificant capsular avulsion and 2 weeks is s short time for recovery. If you merely went to an er perhaps it is time to see a hand surgeon.

Answered 10/3/2016

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