Overview
A scaphoid fracture is a break in one of the small wrist bones on the thumb side. It commonly follows a fall onto an outstretched hand, and the fracture can be difficult to see on an early X-ray.
What It Usually Feels Like
- Pain and tenderness in the hollow just below the base of the thumb
- Pain gripping, pinching or pushing through the palm
- Swelling or bruising that may be modest
- Reduced wrist motion, especially extension
Symptoms alone cannot confirm a fracture. Persistent, focused thumb-side pain after a fall deserves assessment even if the first X-ray is reported as normal.
What Often Helps
Protect the wrist from loading and further falls until it has been assessed. Do not repeatedly test the painful area or return to sport based only on improving pain. Treatment depends on the fracture location, alignment and healing progress.
When to Get It Assessed
Arrange prompt assessment after a fall with focused thumb-side wrist pain. Seek urgent care for deformity, severe swelling, numbness, a cold or pale hand, or rapidly worsening pain.
Related Guidance
- Wrist sprain — a common look-alike after a fall
- Proximal radius anatomy — the nearby forearm bone
- General elbow loading principles — graded return-to-loading principles
References
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. “Scaphoid Fracture of the Wrist.” https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/scaphoid-fracture-of-the-wrist/
- NHS. “Scaphoid fractures.” https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scaphoid-fracture/
This information is for education only and is not a medical diagnosis. InjuryAtlas does not replace an assessment by a qualified health professional.