Elbow, Wrist & Hand

What It Is

The scaphoid is one of the bones in the wrist. To be more precise, it is one of the carpal bones. This particular bone is on the thumb side of the wrist, between the forearm and the hand (AAOS, n.d.).

The scaphoid is the most commonly broken carpal bone, and the injury typically happens in young men aged 15 to 25 (Clementson, Björkman and Thomsen, 2020), although it can happen at any age, including in children (AAOS, n.d.). It is usually caused by falling onto an outstretched hand, but it can also happen from a direct blow to the wrist, punching, sports injuries or road accidents (AAOS, n.d.; UHS, 2025). Sports such as snowboarding and skateboarding carry a risk.

Occasionally a person is unaware they have a scaphoid fracture. The wrist pain is thought to be a sprain, and the swelling goes down (AAOS, n.d.). However, the pain sometimes does not completely go away, so people seek treatment many months after a fall wondering why their wrist has not healed. In these cases, a fracture through the middle of the bone can disrupt its blood supply and stop the two pieces joining (non-union) (AAOS, n.d.). A scaphoid fracture does not always show up on the first X-ray, so doctors may treat a suspected fracture as a fracture until it is ruled out (UHS, 2025).

Scaphoid Fracture of the Wrist Anatomy

In order to gain a better understanding of this type of wrist fracture, it will be of some assistance to know a bit about the anatomy of the wrist.

The wrist is formed by the two forearm bones, the radius and the ulna, and eight small carpal bones (AAOS, n.d.). The eight carpal bones are the pisiform, triquetrum, capitate, hamate, trapezium, trapezoid, lunate and of course, the scaphoid. These bones are all held together by ligaments.

Between your thumb and wrist you have the scaphoid, which sits at the base of a natural dip between two thumb tendons known as the "anatomical snuff box" (AAOS, n.d.).

Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.

Treatment

Self-Care & Treatment

How a Scaphoid Fracture of the Wrist Is Treated

Treatment is decided by your doctor or fracture clinic and may be surgical or non-surgical, depending on where the bone is broken and whether the pieces have moved out of place (AAOS, n.d.). Always follow your fracture clinic's instructions about your cast or splint, and never remove a cast yourself.

Non-surgical treatment: fractures near the thumb end of the bone have a good blood supply and usually heal in a cast or splint. Fractures in the middle (waist) or nearer the forearm (proximal pole) have a poorer blood supply and heal more slowly (AAOS, n.d.). Even so, about 90% of non-displaced waist fractures heal in a cast (Clementson, Björkman and Thomsen, 2020). Healing usually takes 4 to 6 weeks, but can take up to 6 months in parts of the bone that heal more slowly (UHS, 2025). Healing is monitored with X-rays or other scans.
Surgical treatment: surgery may be recommended mainly when the broken pieces have moved out of place, and sometimes for waist or proximal pole fractures. The surgeon uses screws and/or wires to hold the bone together while it heals (AAOS, n.d.; Clementson, Björkman and Thomsen, 2020).

The main risk with this fracture is non-union, sometimes known as non-healing of the scaphoid. Pain can persist for months or years after the fracture because the bone has not joined, usually because its blood supply has been disrupted (AAOS, n.d.).

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Options outside my scope

Bone graft: an operation in which new bone is placed around the broken bone to help it heal, mainly used when the fracture has not healed or has collapsed (AAOS, n.d.).
Bone stimulator: in some cases a doctor may recommend a small device that uses low-intensity ultrasound or electromagnetic waves to help the fracture heal (AAOS, n.d.).

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

Easing the neck, shoulder and arm while you're in the cast
Hands-on work and scar care once your fracture clinic is happy
Exercises to get your wrist and thumb moving and strong again

Tips

If you are looking to prevent a scaphoid fracture, wrist guards worn during high-energy activities such as inline skating, skateboarding and snowboarding can lower your chance of breaking a bone around the wrist (AAOS, n.d.).
If you have suffered a scaphoid fracture, there are a number of things you can do to help:
Keep your fingers moving fully throughout your recovery (AAOS, n.d.).
Rehab exercises after the cast is removed will help to reduce stiffness in the wrist and thumb (AAOS, n.d.). Once your fracture clinic is happy, I can guide you through them, and advise whether gentle massage around the wrist may help with comfort. See the My Approach tab for how I work.
Using ice and heat may help with discomfort. I can show you how to use them safely at home.

Treatment

My Approach

With a scaphoid fracture, your fracture clinic leads the care: they decide on your cast or splint, any surgery, and when the wrist can be used fully. I work inside those limits. If you had surgery, or the fracture stops you doing your normal daily tasks, I need your surgeon's or fracture clinic's okay before any hands-on treatment.

Please bring any X-ray or scan reports and notes from your medical team to your first visit. They're an important part of planning safe treatment for you.

I check what you've been cleared for, then assess how your fingers, elbow, shoulder and neck move, and later your wrist and thumb.

In the Cast

Easing the arm above the cast, the shoulder and the neck, which tighten from guarding or overusing the other arm
Gentle lymphatic drainage above the cast for swelling, and keeping the hand raised
Keeping your fingers, elbow and shoulder moving

After the Cast

Gentle hands-on work for the forearm, wrist and hand, and scar work once healed if you had surgery
Warm applications for stiffness, but no heat over metal screws or wires
Pain-free wrist and thumb movement, then gentle joint mobilisation once your team says the bone is solid
Grip, wrist and thumb strength, building to weight through the hand, push-ups and a return to sport

Stretching or resistance across the fracture waits until your team confirms it has healed. If your fingers turn blue, numb or tingly, call 911 (see When to Get Urgent Help).

What to Expect

Typical Course

Typical course: Usually visits are once or twice a week in the cast and just after it comes off, then weekly, then spacing out as you manage more on your own, with a reassessment at about 4 to 6 weeks. Healing usually takes 4 to 6 weeks but can take up to 6 months in slower-healing parts of the bone, so we follow your fracture clinic's plan.

What I Focus On

Working Within Your Team's Limits

Compensation Relief

Swelling Control

Wrist & Thumb Mobility

Return to Strength

Please read

When to See a Doctor First

When to Get Urgent Help

Call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital if your fingers turn blue, become numb or tingly (pins and needles), you cannot move your fingers, or your pain or swelling gets much worse (UHS, 2025). If your cast becomes loose, cracked or starts rubbing your skin, contact your fracture clinic (UHS, 2025).

Sources

References

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.) Scaphoid fracture of the wrist. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/scaphoid-fracture-of-the-wrist/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
Clementson, M., Björkman, A. and Thomsen, N.O.B. (2020) 'Acute scaphoid fractures: guidelines for diagnosis and treatment', EFORT Open Reviews, 5(2), pp. 96–103. doi: 10.1302/2058-5241.5.190025
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (2025) Scaphoid fracture: accident and emergency patient information (ref. 929.1). Available at: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/929.1-Scaphoid-fracture-2025.pdf (Accessed: 7 October 2026).

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooScaphoid Fracture of the Wrist

What It Is

Scaphoid Fracture of the Wrist Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How a Scaphoid Fracture of the Wrist Is Treated

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Tips

My Approach

In the Cast

After the Cast

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to Get Urgent Help

References

Related Conditions

Book a session

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooScaphoid Fracture of the Wrist

What It Is

Scaphoid Fracture of the Wrist Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How a Scaphoid Fracture of the Wrist Is Treated

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Tips

My Approach

In the Cast

After the Cast

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to Get Urgent Help

References

Related Conditions

Bennett's Fracture

Boutonniere Deformity of the Finger

Carpal Bone Fracture

Colles' Fracture

Book a session