Wrist injuries and syndromes
by Dr Jeffrey Budoff
Top Houston Wrist Surgeon

DeQuervain’s Tendinitis causes sharp pain on the radial (thumb side) of the wrist.  This pain is located just above the thumb, and is usually worse with lifting and gripping.  DeQuervain’s Tendinitis is due to a space problem, similar to carpal tunnel syndrome.  However, instead of a nerve ge… more

Intersection Syndrome leads to pain, swelling and occasionally ‘squeaking’ on the back of the wrist. The pain of Intersection Syndrome is usually worse with gripping or lifting, especially with the ‘palm down’. Intersection syndrome is usually due to overuse from activities that require … more

The Flexor Carpi Radialis (FCR) is one of the tendons that helps flex the wrist. It is located on the palmar surface of the wrist, near the base of the thumb muscles. Overuse, usually from repetitive lifting with the palm up, may lead to FCR Tendinitis. Computer use may also cause FCR Tendin… more

The Flexor Carpi Ulnaris (FCU) tendon is on the palmar side of the wrist, on the small finger side. The FCU is one of the major tendons that flex the wrist. Occasionally, overuse can cause damage to the FCU tendon. As opposed to the Flexor Carpi Radialis (FCR) tendon, which runs in a sheath an… more

The ECU tendon is on the back of the wrist on the small finger side. The ECU tendon is a common source of wrist pain, as there are many problems that can affect it. The ECU tend… more

Ganglion cysts are the most common cause of a bump or mass about the wrist. They are 100% benign. Ganglion cysts are simply herniations of fluid that come from the underlying wrist joint. The herniation is caused by a weakness in the wrist’s capsule, the “balloon” of ligaments surrounding the joint…. more

Distal Radius Fractures (fractures of the large bone of the wrist) are the most common fracture in the entire human body (Wrist Figure 2). Distal Radius Fractures come in many different types and patterns, which are all treated differently. Despite the fact that some physicians … more

Many Distal Radius Fractures heal in ‘suboptimal’ position, either because they were not surgically fixed or because the surgical fixation did not turn out well. When a Distal Radius Fracture heals in poor position it is called a ‘malunion’. Distal Radius Malunions can lead to deformity,… more

The scaphoid is probably the worst bone in the entire arm to break. It has a poor blood supply, it is subjected to high stresses, and it is a very important wrist bone. Scaphoid fractures are serious injuries. Textbooks have been written about them. They love to not heal (i.e. go on to ‘no… more

Fractures of the Hook of the Hamate (also called the “Hamulus”) occur mainly in people who play racket or batting sports, such as tennis, golf or baseball. Hamate hook fractures lead to pain in the base of the palm on the small finger’s side. Hamate Hook fractures are not seen on standard … more

The forearm consists of two bones, the radius and the ulna. Forearm fractures are usually significant injuries that lead to pain, stiffness and deformity. In adults and teenagers, forearm fractures usually require surgical fixation. The best way to fix forearm fractures in an adult or teenager… more

Scapho-Lunate (SL) Ligament injuries are serious injuries to the wrist. The Scapho-Lunate Ligament connects two of the most important bones of the wrist together: the scaphoid and the lunate. The Scapho-Lunate Ligament keeps those small bones of the wrist moving together in a normal, synchronous… more

Now that Kobe Bryant suffered a Luno-Triquetral Ligament injury in his wrist, many people are interested in this problem. The Luno-Triquetral Ligament keeps two of the wrist’s bones, the lunate and the triquetrum, aligned and connected to each other so that they move together in a normal, synchr… more

The Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFC or TFCC) is a very common source of pain on the ulnar (small finger) side of the wrist. The Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex is a constellation of many structures that support the Triangular Fibrocartilage Proper. The Triangular Fibrocartilage is the m… more

Wrist arthritis is very common. There are a number of reasons that wrist arthritis occurs: from scaphoid fractures, ligament injuries, distal radius fractures, metabolic diseases (such as gout), rheumatoid arthritis or from just plain old wear and tear. Wrist arthritis leads to pain, stiffness a… more

The lunate is the key central load-bearing bone in the wrist, but its blood supply is limited. For reasons that are not completely understood, the lunate can spontaneously suffer disruption of this blood supply without any trauma or fracture. Repetitive stresses may or may not be involved. Whe… more

Wrist pain can be caused by many disorders: tendon entrapment, tendon degeneration, occult ganglion cysts (that are too small to be seen, but still press on nerves or other sensitive structures), fractures, ligament injuries, Triangular Fibrocartilage injuries, Kienbock’s Disease and arthritis. … more