Plaster for scaphoid fracture
Surgical treatment is not always necessary in the case of a scaphoid fracture. If possible, one tries to avoid an operation. This can be attempted without hesitation, usually with fractures that are quite fresh, stable and not displaced.
The classic variant of conservative therapy is the application of a plaster or plastic bandage and the resulting immobilization of the forearm and wrist. In most cases, this plaster extends over the entire forearm and also includes the thumb. The wrist, thumb saddle joint and thumb base joint are thus immobilized so that they cannot move and the bone can heal again without the risk of certain pieces slipping and the wrist growing back together crookedly.
However, the thumb end joint and all finger joints are left free so that they remain normally mobile. Rarely is a cast applied that extends beyond the elbow, but this is a procedure that is controversial among doctors. How long the cast has to be worn depends on the extent of the injury.On average, it is assumed that it is sufficient to rest the wrist for about 12 weeks.
When the cast is removed, the patient should be aware that although the scaphoid fracture has ideally healed completely, the hand is still not fully functional because it has not been moved at all for several weeks. For this reason, the increase in mobility and strength should take place slowly and step by step. Warm hand baths, in which the hand can be moved in all directions without major stress, can be used to support this process.
It is often advisable to do physiotherapy under the supervision of a doctor or physiotherapist. If pain occurs during certain movements, this should be interpreted as a serious warning signal from the body, which means that it is probably too early for this movement. In addition to the plaster cast, various painkillers from the antirheumatic group (non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs, NSAIDs) such as Voltaren or Ibuprofen can be used. However, this should also only be done in consultation with a doctor.
