Forearm/Wrist Nerve and Tendon Injuries
What are Forearm/Wrist Nerve and Tendon Injuries?
Forearm and wrist nerve and tendon injuries involve damage to the structures that allow movement and sensation in the hand and fingers. Tendons connect muscles to bones and enable movement, while nerves transmit signals for motion and sensation. Injuries to these structures can impair hand function, cause pain, and affect everyday tasks like gripping, typing, or lifting.
Causes of Forearm/Wrist Nerve and Tendon Injuries
These injuries may result from trauma, overuse, or underlying medical conditions. Common causes include:
- Lacerations or penetrating injuries, such as cuts from glass or sharp tools
- Fractures or dislocations, which can stretch or sever tendons and nerves
- Overuse or repetitive motion, leading to tendonitis or nerve compression
- Crush injuries, from machinery, sports, or accidents
- Inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis
- Entrapment syndromes, like carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve) or cubital tunnel syndrome (ulnar nerve)
These injuries are common in athletes, industrial workers, and individuals who perform repetitive hand motions.
What are the Symptoms of Forearm/Wrist Nerve and Tendon Injuries?
Symptoms vary based on the structure affected but often include:
- Pain or tenderness along the forearm or wrist
- Swelling or bruising at the injury site
- Weakness or inability to move the wrist or fingers
- Numbness or tingling, particularly in the thumb, index, and middle fingers (median nerve), or ring and little fingers (ulnar nerve)
- Visible tendon retraction or deformity after rupture or laceration
- Muscle atrophy, in chronic nerve injuries
How are Forearm/Wrist Nerve and Tendon Injuries Diagnosed?
Diagnosis includes a clinical exam and may involve imaging or nerve tests:
- Physical examination, to assess motor function, grip strength, and sensation
- Tinel’s and Phalen’s tests, to detect nerve compression
- Ultrasound or MRI, for tendon visualization and structural assessment
- Nerve conduction studies and EMG, to evaluate nerve function
- X-rays, if fractures or joint issues are suspected
What are the Treatment Options for Forearm/Wrist Nerve and Tendon Injuries?
Treatment depends on the injury type, severity, and duration:
- Rest, ice, and anti-inflammatories, for mild cases or overuse injuries
- Splinting or bracing, to protect healing tissues
- Surgical repair, for lacerated or ruptured tendons and severed nerves
- Physical and occupational therapy, to restore function and strength
- Steroid injections or nerve release surgery, for entrapment syndromes
Tendon grafting or nerve transfers, in complex or chronic injuries