Overview General support

• You have been seen in the Emergency • For general medical advice please use Department and suspected to have a the NHS website, the NHS 111 service, fracture of the scaphoid , a bone at walk-in centres, or your GP. the base of the . • The NHS website provides online health

• Your initial treatment will be a plaster information and guidance www.nhs.uk cast to stop movement of your and • NHS 111 phone line offers medical help thumb, to help the heal - you will and advice from trained advisers need it for four to six weeks. You may supported by nurses and paramedics. Advice for patients seen in the use the as pain allows Available 24 hours a day. Calls are free Emergency Department • Take pain killers as prescribed to from landlines and mobile phones. manage any pain and swelling. • There are walk-in and urgent treatment • We have referred you to the fracture services at Brighton Station, in Crawley clinic and they will manage your ongoing and at Lewes Victoria Hospital.

care. Please make sure we have your www.bsuh.nhs.uk/services/ae/

latest contact details. • Patient Advice and Liaison Service • If you have not received a follow-up (PALS) can be contacted with your

appointment from the hand and wrist comments and concerns, and to provide fracture clinic within three working general support. [email protected] days, call them on 01273 696 955 extn RSCH 01273 664683. 4116. PRH 01444 448678 PALS, Royal Sussex County Hospital, • Please return to Emergency Department Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 5BE Emergency Department immediately if you are affected by any of the following: © Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust Royal Sussex County Hospital Level 5, Thomas Kemp Tower, o increased pain; Disclaimer: The information in this leaflet is for guidance Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 5BE purposes only and is in no way intended to replace o 01273 696955 extn. 64261 increased swelling; professional clinical advice by a qualified practitioner. Princess Royal Hospital o numbness or pins and needles in Ref number: 929 Lewes Road, Haywards Heath RH16 4EX the affected ; Publication Date: March 2019 Review Date: March 2021 01444 448745

o inability to move your fingers; www.bsuh.nhs.uk

o blueness of the fingers; o if the plaster cracks, becomes loose or is rubbing your skin. • You will be reviewed in fracture clinic Scaphoid fracture Your ongoing care around 2 weeks post injury. You may have further imaging to confirm the • The scaphoid bone is situated on the • To ensure you are progressing as fracture occurred and to review the thumb side of the hand, it may be injured expected you will be reviewed in fracture current healing process. clinic in about 2 weeks. by a fall on an outstretched hand, by a 6 – 12 weeks after the injury blow to the wrist or from punching. • The plaster applied in the Emergency • You will be seen again in fracture clinic • Some fractures of the scaphoid are not Department may be changed to a plaster all around the especially in 6 to 12 weeks to remove the cast and always visible on the initial x-ray and be seen by the hand team. The injury further imaging may be necessary to if there is not much swelling when they examine your arm. should have healed within this time but confirm the presence of a fracture. heavy tasks or lifting may still be • Even if the doctor cannot see a fracture • You may be seen again in fracture clinic uncomfortable. around 4 to 6 weeks after your injury to on the initial x-ray, when they examine • Another x-ray will be taken out of plaster you, if they suspect the bone may be remove the cast and to be seen by one of the hand team. to see how well the bones are healing. broken, they will treat it as a fracture The doctor will assess you and if you are until confirmation. • Fractures of the scaphoid can occur in experiencing pain a splint will be applied • The treatment involves putting a plaster different parts of this bone and some instead of the plaster. type of fracture can experience delays or cast on your forearm. This will have 12 weeks after the injury plaster on one side and not all over, and failure to heal on their own. As a result, then be covered in bandages. some patients require an operation to fix • If you are still experiencing significant the bone. In general it can take up to 6 pain and swelling after 12 weeks then • Take pain killers as prescribed to help months for the fracture to heal; most please contact the Fracture Clinic for with any pain or swelling. patients will be x-rayed at that time to advice. • You may use the hand as pain allows. confirm healing of the fracture Seek medical advice • You should keep your arm elevated in a sling as this will reduce swelling and Treatment may help reduce your pain. • You should see your GP or contact the 0 – 6 weeks after the injury Hand and Wrist Fracture Clinic (01273 • A scaphoid fracture normally takes • Your initial treatment will be via a plaster 696 955 extn 4116): approximately 4 to 6 weeks to heal. The cast immobilising the wrist and thumb o cast is to help the bones heal. if you are experiencing new pain or but afterwards you may require surgical symptoms, • You will be referred for review by the treatment. orthopedic team via the fracture clinic. o or you have any questions. • Your arm will be in a cast for 4 to 6 They will arrange for your ongoing care. weeks. You will be given a care of your • If you are having problems or discomfort plaster cast leaflet; this will contain dos with the cast please speak to the and don’ts of looking after your cast. fracture clinic or your GP.