Wrist injuries like breaks and strains are a common childhood ailment—especially for kids and teens who are active in sports. But even for those not involved in youth athletics, simple playground mishaps or accidents at home can still cause wrist sprains, fractures, and growth issues..

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Here, we’ll cover some of the most common pediatric wrist injuries, how to treat them, and how to prevent them.

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Common Types of Wrist Injuries

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Wrist injuries in children and teens typically occur from either sudden injury or due to an overuse of the joint. In some rare cases, a child might experience symptoms caused by autoimmune conditions such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, but the majority of wrist injuries are from falls, breaks, strains, or repetitive stress. 

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Growth Plate Injuries

It’s typical to see wrist injuries that involve a bone’s growth plate—the cartilage near the ends of the bone that isn’t as strong as the surrounding bone or ligaments. If left untreated, or improperly treated, injuries to wrist growth plates can ultimately impact the development and long-term range of motion of the child’s forearm.

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Fractures

Fractures are one of the most common types of injuries we see in young children, and the best way to ensure proper healing is by getting expert treatment quickly and thoroughly. Although broken bones might not always be obvious, typical signs of a pediatric wrist fracture may include an inability to move the wrist or hand, pain and swelling in the affected area, bruising or redness in the wrist or forearm, and deformity of the wrist, hand, or forearm.

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Learn more about fractures and how we treat them at LuskinOIC’s Ahmanson Foundation Fracture Center.

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Sprains and Strains

Wrist sprains are most often caused by the child falling on an outstretched arm, or a similar impact from contact sports that forces the wrist to hyperextend and tears the surrounding soft tissue and ligaments. Common signs of a wrist sprain include swelling, bruising, pain or tenderness, and weakness. 

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If you suspect your child has endured a sprain, don’t wait! Visit LuskinOIC’s Pediatric Urgent Care Center. Learn more or hold your spot in line online here.

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Gymnast Wrist

Yes, it’s a real injury! Gymnast wrist is a repetitive stress injury that causes pain and inflammation on the thumb side of the wrist. It usually develops when a gymnast increases training intensity or moves to a higher competitive level.

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Learn more about Pediatric Overuse Injuries, and how to prevent them.

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How is treatment for pediatric wrist injuries different from adults?

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One of the biggest differences is in terms of the child’s growth plates. Adult growth plates have already closed, so there’s less risk of a developmental malfunction. 

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For example, a pediatric fracture may do damage to growth plates; left untreated, damaged growth plates may cause bones to grow unevenly, or not at all. This is why it’s so important to see a pediatric orthopedic specialist as soon as possible to ensure proper healing.

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Children’s bones are also more flexible than adults, which allows them to absorb shock better. In general, children heal faster than adults, who tend to require longer recovery and rehabilitation time.

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Our Sports Medicine team at LuskinOIC has revolutionized athletic recovery by using cutting-edge research to assess the physical and mental/emotional readiness of young athletes so they can return to their favorite activities post-injury. 

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From evaluating limb symmetry to analyzing neuromotor control, our expert physicians guide athletes and families toward a safe return to the sports and activities they love. 

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Learn more about our Sports Medicine program for youth athletes.

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Tips For Preventing Children’s Wrist Injuries  

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For youth athletes, proper gear is key. Wrist guards, properly fitted gloves, finger taping, and other game-time prep can help to prevent injury both in the immediate and over time.

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Coaches and athletic trainers can also assist with injury prevention at schools and on the field.

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At home, encourage an active lifestyle that includes stretching, hydration, and an injury-prevention mindset for wrists and the whole body.

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We aim to provide outstanding musculoskeletal medical assistance for all children and we’re here for you if an unexpected wrist injury happens. Learn more about our caring team of experts at LuskinOIC.

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