When we get injured, we often don’t realize the severity of the situation, and most people choose the traditional method of fixing the issue. But treatment options can vary based on the type of injury. Some injuries heal with minimal care; others require surgery. This underestimation is especially common in wrist injuries. 

To decide if your wrist injury requires an operation or not, you need to learn about common types of wrist injuries and how they differ from each other. So let’s explore different types of wrist injuries so that you know when to visit a surgeon.

Scaphoid Fractures

Scaphoid fractures are common; people often put all their weight and pressure on their thumb to save themselves during a fall or accident, which in turn puts extra pressure on the scaphoid bone on the thumb side of the wrist.

Whether an operation is necessary or not usually depends on several factors. One major issue with these injuries is that the bone has a limited blood supply, which slows the healing process. If an X-ray or MRI shows the bone is out of alignment, or if weeks later you still have pain, you should consider a wrist operation to reduce the risk of nonunion and long-term arthritis.

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Tears

Next on the list of severe wrist surgeries are TFCC tears. The triangular fibrocartilage complex is a structure located on the pinky side of your wrist. Normally, this part stabilizes the joint. So when this gets hit during injury, the pain is usually severe, especially when you are trying to open a jar or twisting your hand for other such movements. This pain and hindrance in movement can be discomforting, so you should consider surgery, especially if minor treatments are not responding very well.

Distal Radius Fractures

The distal radius is the most commonly broken bone in the wrist. Some fractures heal easily with simple treatment options like casting, but others are more complex. Distal radius fractures require more minute care, and if the injury is severe enough to cause bone misalignment or the joint surface becomes uneven, surgeons often recommend a procedure called open reduction and internal fixation. Surgery will ensure proper alignment, which is essential to maintaining your wrist’s function. Even a slight misalignment can lead to stiffness, weakness, or arthritis over time.

Final Thoughts

Deciding whether your wrist injury requires surgery or not mostly depends on the kind of accident and how severe your symptoms are. It also depends on the specific location of the injury; some areas are sensitive because the blood supply or pain tolerance may be low. Although knowing the symptoms can help assess the severity of the issue, whether you need surgery or not, the final decision will be made by your doctors. So if you feel your injury is serious, then don’t wait until movement becomes impossible; rush to the hospital in a timely manner.