SNAPPING WRIST

If you suffer from a popping and cracking noise from the wrist or loss of strenght, please Schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic specialists as soon as possible.

What Causes Snapping Wrist?

On the outer edge of the wrist by the pinky finger, also known as the “Ulnar” side, there sits the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon. This ECU tendon runs all the way from the back of the forearm to the ulnar side of the wrist.

The condition some people call “Snapping Wrist” actually results from the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon snapping in and out of the groove that it normally slides through in the wrist, due to some damage to the sheath that usually keeps it in place. Athletes tend to suffer from snapping wrist the most, and usually after some kind of traumatic injury. Physicians call this condition “ECU Subluxation”.

What Are the Symptoms of ECU Subluxation?

People with Snapping Wrist will feel a painful snapping sensation when twisting the wrist. The tendon will snap out of place when patients rotate their palms facing upward, and snap back with palm rotates downward.

Conservative treatment can include casting the area to immobilize the tendon while the sheath over the groove heals. If conservative treatment fails, surgeons can operate on the wrist to manually repair the tendon sheath.

If you would like to speak to one of our DFW Metroplex upper extremity  Orthopedic Specialist, give us a call at 817-697-4038, or contact us over the web. Tele-medicine appointments are also available.