Ligaments, strong bands of tissue that connect bones to bones, are plentiful in the wrist joint. A torn ligament in the wrist is most often caused by a fall onto the hand that forces the wrist into an unnatural position. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the patient will often describe feeling a pop when a ligament tears. The degree of injury should be evaluated immediately by a medical professional.
First Aid
The goal immediately after a wrist injury is to control the amount of swelling that results and to prevent any further injury. The patient should apply ice packs to the area for 20 minutes every hour, for the first 48 hours after the injury. The wrist can be wrapped lightly with an elastic bandage to give compression and support to the area. Keeping the wrist elevated above the heart can help limit the amount of swelling that occurs. It is important for the patient to see a physician to determine the degree of injury and rule out a fracture.
Splinting
Generally, a torn wrist ligament will require immobilization for some period of time. This will allow the injured structures to heal in a protected fashion and decrease the likelihood of the wrist becoming unstable. The physician may apply a prefabricated wrist splint and sling, or have a custom splint fabricated by an occupational or physical therapist. The degree of injury will determine the length of time the wrist will need to be immobilized. Often, the patient will be allowed to remove the splint each day to perform specific exercises.
Surgery
Tears of multiple wrist ligaments will often result in instability in the wrist and require surgery to correct. According to the Internet Society of Orthopedic Surgery and Trauma, there are several surgical techniques that are employed in treating the wrist, depending on the location of the tear and how quickly it is diagnosed. All surgery will be followed by a period of immobilization, generally from two to eight weeks. Occupational or physical therapy is crucial to a successful outcome after any surgery involving the wrist and will be prescribed for several weeks by the surgeon.
