Middorsal Wrist Pain in the High-Level Athlete: Causes, Treatment, and Early Return to Play

Zachary C Hanson; Gary M Lourie

doi:10.1177/23259671221088610

Middorsal Wrist Pain in the High-Level Athlete: Causes, Treatment, and Early Return to Play

Orthop J Sports Med. 2022 Apr 22;10(4):23259671221088610. doi: 10.1177/23259671221088610. eCollection 2022 Apr.

Authors

Zachary C Hanson¹, Gary M Lourie^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
² The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Abstract

Wrist injuries in the competitive athlete are a common reason for evaluation related to an acute injury or after symptoms have become chronic. While radius- and ulna-sided wrist pain are common topics covered in the literature, middorsal wrist pain is more common than the available literature would suggest. Missed diagnoses and inadequate treatment can significantly increase athlete morbidity and delay return to play. The goal of this article was to review the differential diagnosis of middorsal wrist pain in the athlete and discuss the diagnosis, treatment, and early return to play for each condition.

Keywords: athletic injuries; dorsal wrist impingement; dorsal wrist syndrome; overuse; wrist; dorsal wrist pain.

Publication types

Review