Sprained Wrist

What is a wrist sprain?

A wrist sprain happens when one or more ligaments — the tough bands of tissue that hold the wrist together — stretch or tear. Mild sprains involve small stretches or tears, while more serious injuries can include complete ligament tears and, in some cases, joint dislocation. Wrist sprains are common and often follow a fall, sports injury or sudden strain during everyday activities.

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A look at wrist anatomy

Several small bones form the wrist, and strong ligaments connect them to guide movement and keep the joint stable. When the wrist bends or twists too far, those ligaments can stretch or tear. This injury can cause pain, swelling and a sense that the wrist feels weak or unstable. Healthy ligaments play an important role in daily tasks like gripping, lifting and supporting your weight through your hands.

Overview

Symptoms

You may notice one or more of the following symptoms after a wrist sprain:

Pain or tenderness around the wrist
Swelling and stiffness that limit motion
Trouble gripping objects or pushing up from a chair
A feeling that the wrist is weak or “giving way”

Severe sprains can feel like a broken bone. If pain, swelling or loss of function doesn’t improve, it’s important to seek care.

Causes

Wrist sprains most often occur when force travels through the wrist faster or farther than it can safely handle. Common causes include:

Falling onto an outstretched hand
Sudden twisting or bending of the wrist
Contact or collision injuries during sports
Lifting or supporting heavy loads that strain the wrist

More severe injuries may cause the wrist to partially or fully dislocate, which almost always signals a significant ligament injury.

Diagnosis

Your hand and wrist specialist will listen to how the injury happened, talk with you about your symptoms and examine your wrist. X-rays often help rule out fractures or dislocations. When we suspect a more serious ligament injury, we may recommend an MRI to get a closer look at the ligaments and joint surfaces.

Why treatment matters

Nonsurgical care

Most wrist sprains heal without surgery. Your care plan may include:

Short-term splinting or bracing to protect the wrist while it heals
Temporary activity changes to avoid painful or high-impact use
Anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and ice to ease pain and swelling
Hand therapy to restore motion, strength and confidence with use

Many mild sprains improve over several weeks, although some stiffness may linger as the ligaments fully recover.

Surgical care

When a ligament tear is severe, when a fracture or dislocation is present, or when symptoms don’t improve with nonsurgical care, surgery may help restore stability and function. Depending on the injury, we may repair or reconstruct the damaged ligament and stabilize the wrist, sometimes using minimally invasive arthroscopy. We’ll walk you through your options and recommend an approach that fits your goals and lifestyle.

Take the next step

Our board-certified specialists are here to help you heal. They can often diagnose the problem in one visit and get you started with a personalized treatment plan. We offer a wide variety of treatment options.