Wrist Case 1 History/Physical Exam

As above, the patient will reveal a traumatic injury with a fall on an outstretched hand. Physical exam classically reveals tenderness to palpation in the anatomic snuffbox. Pain may also be elicited if the thumb is axially compressed along the line of the first metacarpal towards the scaphoid. A final test is to pronate the wrist while simultaneously deviating to the ulnar side. Pain in the anatomic snuffbox with this maneuver is both highly sensitive and specific for scaphoid fracture.