Physiotherapists in Goole treat many different conditions including the issues profiled below.

Flexion Wrist Fracture

Fractures of the last inch of the radius and ulna make up seventy-five percent of all wrist injuries and require careful assessment and treatment to ensure a good functional outcome. The hand is a very important part and any residual disability can have long term functional consequences. A fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH) often results in a Colles fracture but it can also result in a flexion fracture which is called a reversed Colles fracture or a Smith fracture. This latter type of fracture is much less common than the Colles fracture and is generally used to describe a fracture of the end of the radius which results in the fragment being displaced in a palmar direction.

This injury is commonly caused by falling onto the hand with the palm facing upward and the wrist tending to be forced into flexion. The hand stays in place on the ground as the forearm rotates inwards under the force of the fall, generating the fracture. This fracture can also be produced by punching something with the wrist in a slightly bent position. Overall management is the same as for Colles fracture, with realignment of the bony fragments and immobilisation.

Hand Injuries - Diagnosis

The diagnosis of most hand injuries is not difficult as the damage is usually readily apparent to the examiner. There will typically be a history of trauma and this should be carefully attended to as it may give clues to a more complex injury than first appears. Bruising and swelling are very typical signs apparent on initial inspection, with pain a common and often localising feature. There may be an obvious deformity if the joints are dislocated or bones fractures with displacement, the patient will have lost the ability to grip firmly and there may be reduced range of movement in the fingers and thumb.

Examination starts with a visual examination of the hand which guides the doctor as to further required tests and investigations. The doctor will palpate the hand systematically to look for areas of particular pain or abnormal movement which would point to an underlying injury. The ranges of movement of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand is assessed and recorded, with the tendon actions tested in turn to search out any tendon involvement. Circulatory function will be checked to exclude blood vessel damage. Investigations will routinely include x-rays to look for fractures, dislocations or embedded objects such as glass.