Broken wrist/broken hand

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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Participating in certain sports activities or having certain health conditions may increase your chances of experiencing a broken wrist or broken hand.

Sports activities
Many people break bones in their wrists or hands while participating in:

  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Wrestling
  • Hockey
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Inline skating

Health conditions
You may be more susceptible to broken bones in general if you have:

  • Osteoporosis
  • Bone disease
  • Calcium deficiency
References
  1. Petron DJ, et al. Distal radius fractures in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 21, 2009.
  2. Fracture of the finger. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00257. Accessed April 21, 2009.
  3. Anderson BC. Evaluation of the adult patient with wrist pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 21, 2009.
  4. Woolfrey KG, et al. Orthopedic lesions: Wrist and forearm. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and clinical practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/132876839-5/832233957/1365/124.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02845-4..50053-6--cesec18_1919. Accessed April 21, 2009.
  5. Lyn E, et al. Orthopedic lesions: Hand. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and clinical practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/132876839-5/0/1365/121.html?tocnode=51891270&fromURL=121.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02845-4..50052-4_1733. Accessed April 23, 2009.
  6. Hand fractures. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00010. Accessed April 23, 2009.
  7. Bone X-ray (radiography). Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bonerad. Accessed April 23, 2009.
  8. CT: Body. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodyct. Accessed April 23, 2009.
  9. MRI of the musculoskeletal system. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=muscmr. Accessed May 12, 2009.
  10. General nuclear medicine. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=gennuclear. Accessed April 23, 2009.
  11. Wrist fractures. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. http://www.assh.org/Public/HandConditions/Pages/WristFractures.aspx. Accessed April 23, 2009.
  12. Lewiecki EM. Prevention of osteoporosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 23, 2009.
  13. Ski and snowboard injuries. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. http://www.assh.org/Public/HandConditions/Pages/SkiandSnowboardInjuries.aspx. Accessed April 23, 2009.

DS00971

July 10, 2009

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