Question

While being tackled, a 20 year-old football player put out his hand to break his fall to the ground. Because the intense pain in his wrist did not subside by the end of the game, he was brought to an emergency department, where diagnostic imaging indicated an incomplete tear of the ligament surrounding his wrist joint. At the time of admission, his wrist was swollen with a severely restricted range of motion. What will his care team most likely tell the player about his diagnosis and treatment?

Answer 1

Care team would tell him that it is mild or moderate sprain and he is to keep his hand immobilized for few days to few weeks.

Sprain is a common injury for all type of athletes. Moderate sprains heals on their own all you need to do is let it rest for few days atleast 48 hour to few weeks (depending upon its severity). Ice your wrist in order to lessen the swelling and pain, use of bandage to compress the wrist is very useful, and use of cast or splint to keep the arm immobilize for few days is beneficial, however use of splint for long time could have negative effect of stiffness of muscles.