Scaphoid (wrist bone) Fracture
The scaphoid or navicular bone is the most commonly fractured wrist bone. It is usually the result of a fall onto the outstretched hand. Often, these fractures are initially missed on routine x-rays or ignored by the patient as a “sprain.” If not treated appropriately, a scaphoid fracture may not heal, resulting in eventual collapse and arthritis of the wrist many years later. The scaphoid bone takes longer than most bones to heal. Sometimes surgery is recommended to place a screw across the fracture for better healing.