Wrist pain after a fall.

Abstract

A 28-year-old right-handed man tripped down a flight of stairs, landing on his outstretched right hand. He developed immediate pain, swelling, and stiffness but did not seek medical attention. After 1 week without relief, he went to see his primary care provider. The patient did not have numbness or tingling, and he reported no previous injuries to the wrist. X-rays were obtained (figure 1), and the patient was referred to an orthopedist for further evaluation.