How long before I can drive again after scaphoid fracture.

[Stealth213S]

Hi,
I managed to injure my wrist (on Friday 13th of May incidentally), and have a waist fracture of my scaphoid. The fracture is not displaced (i.e.) still in the correct line so I was put in a cast. At 5 1/2 weeks I went back for an X-ray and it was healing but the fracture line was still visible so I've been in a splint since then.
I hope that its healed correctly at my next appointment in a week and a bit and I can come out of the splint. Which will be 11 1/2 weeks since I did it.

Has anyone done anything similar and how long did it take before you could drive again?

Thanks.
B.

[radddogg]

Automatics are so much cool.

[Roboscot]

Do you mean befiore you are physically able to drive, or when the doc says you can start driving again? I fractured my wrist playing football years ago and drove to Devon 2 days later I couldnt wind my window down or turn the ignition with my right hand but didnt want to abandon my plans for the trip, luckily it wasnt the gear-changing hand or i'd have been fecked. I'm guessing it cant have been as bad a fracture as yours tho.

[bjrespect]

iv drove aroud with a cast on when i broke my wrist coming off the crosser

[radddogg]

iv drove aroud with a cast on when i broke my wrist coming off the crosser

Insurance might not pay out in the event of a crash though

[bjrespect]

iv drove aroud with a cast on when i broke my wrist coming off the crosser

Insurance might not pay out in the event of a crash though

they wouldnt have anyway at the time i didnt have any

[rover220]

iv drove aroud with a cast on when i broke my wrist coming off the crosser

Insurance might not pay out in the event of a crash though

they wouldnt have anyway at the time i didnt have any

Because you are a muppet

[bjrespect]

iv drove aroud with a cast on when i broke my wrist coming off the crosser

Insurance might not pay out in the event of a crash though

they wouldnt have anyway at the time i didnt have any

Because you are a muppet

times change circustances change

so your sentence should say

because you was a muppet

lots of love ben

[radddogg]

iv drove aroud with a cast on when i broke my wrist coming off the crosser

Insurance might not pay out in the event of a crash though

they wouldnt have anyway at the time i didnt have any

Because you are a muppet

times change circustances change

so your sentence should say

because you was a muppet

lots of love ben

Should have said "You were a muppet".

[mg-richard]

Your fine to drive with one hand aslong as its an auto im sure

You wont even have to declare to insurance etc

[Stealth213S]

Thanks, I've not got an auto I'm happy to say.

I'll wait and see what the fracture clinic say before I do drive. If the healing has gone to plan then I'll not have to worry about the effect of driving on my wrist, just the effect of the wrist on my driving.

[bjrespect]

dont worry and drive worst case is you will miss a gear

[radddogg]

Thanks, I've not got an auto I'm happy to say.

Your loss....

[Pinkie15]

11.5 wks, so you're just over the average healing time for a scaph fracture. Given the risk of scaph waist fractures to lead to necrosis of the scaph nearest to your arm I'd seriously avoid driving until given all clear by the docs.

You indicate it was an undisplaced fracture, so presumably you've just had cast/splint and no external fixation (pins or wires). This means that any vibration through the hands can cause the the bone to "drift" along the fracture line, delaying, or even stopping, the bone from knitting back together.

No matter how well set up your car is, on the relative level for fractures like this to heal, you get a lot of vibration through the steering wheel. So you either risk vibrational damage to the fracture, or drive one handed (which of course you'd tell the insurance Co. about ).

[Stealth213S]

11.5 wks, so you're just over the average healing time for a scaph fracture. Given the risk of scaph waist fractures to lead to necrosis of the scaph nearest to your arm I'd seriously avoid driving until given all clear by the docs.

As I say, I am waiting for the appointment next week before I make any decision. I was just looking for an idea of timescale.

You indicate it was an undisplaced fracture, so presumably you've just had cast/splint and no external fixation (pins or wires).

Yes.

This means that any vibration through the hands can cause the the bone to "drift" along the fracture line, delaying, or even stopping, the bone from knitting back together.

No matter how well set up your car is, on the relative level for fractures like this to heal, you get a lot of vibration through the steering wheel. So you either risk vibrational damage to the fracture, or drive one handed (which of course you'd tell the insurance Co. about ).

So at 12 weeks, should the bone not have knitted back together by then?

I don't want to drive and risk not being covered (even though I could drive better one handed than most of the population can with two hands, doubt that would wash with an insurance co).

[Pinkie15]

This means that any vibration through the hands can cause the the bone to "drift" along the fracture line, delaying, or even stopping, the bone from knitting back together.

No matter how well set up your car is, on the relative level for fractures like this to heal, you get a lot of vibration through the steering wheel. So you either risk vibrational damage to the fracture, or drive one handed (which of course you'd tell the insurance Co. about ).

So at 12 weeks, should the bone not have knitted back together by then?

I don't want to drive and risk not being covered (even though I could drive better one handed than most of the population can with two hands, doubt that would wash with an insurance co).

As you've no doubt become aware, 'cause of the relatively limited blood supply, scaphoid takes a long time to heal. After 12 wks it should have healed. I guess you'll find out for sure in a week or so time

[rovermadman4825]

I fooked my hand up 3 years ago (put my kuckle through the palm of my hand) and I was driving at about the 9wk period altho I could only hold on the the steering wheel with 2 fingers then I had 4 more operations after that and waited a couple of months each time

[Limecat]

Hi,
I managed to injure my wrist (on Friday 13th of May incidentally), and have a waist fracture of my scaphoid. The fracture is not displaced (i.e.) still in the correct line so I was put in a cast. At 5 1/2 weeks I went back for an X-ray and it was healing but the fracture line was still visible so I've been in a splint since then.
I hope that its healed correctly at my next appointment in a week and a bit and I can come out of the splint. Which will be 11 1/2 weeks since I did it.

Has anyone done anything similar and how long did it take before you could drive again?

Thanks.
B.

I broke my radial and scaphoid at the same time about 4 1/2 years ago. The hospital (Stepping Hill who are on the news of late ) sent me away after scanning my wrist saying it was fine and to come back to the fracture clinic on Monday (I did it on a Friday night). I went back to the fracture clinic, was told they couldn't do anything for my radial other than put it in a sling as it needs an element of movement? They asked where hurt most so I said my wrist. They looked at the x-rays again and sure enough I had broken my scaphoid too.

I was told that it is not only one of the hardest bones to break as it is small and dense but also one of the slowest to heal due to blood supply?

I was put in a cast initially for 8 weeks, it was removed, re-scanned and given another for a further 4 weeks. In the end it was 16 weeks until it was removed.

Even after it was taken off I thought it was still broken as it ached like a mofo when driving the Corsa (which had PAS) and I couldn't even drive my R5, well I could with the left hand but as the steering is heavy anyway it would have been dangerous.

It's not just it being removed fella, it's the fact that so many muscles and ligaments haven't been used for months while in cast. You will find you get 'twinges' for various stuff for a long time to come, shopping, table football, badminton, pool just random crap unti it's back in place so to speak. I also find my wrist is a bit restrictive when it's really f'ing cold.

Still, I won't be climbing in through an upstairs window from a wheelie bin when I am locked out in future!

iv drove aroud with a cast on when i broke my wrist coming off the crosser

Insurance might not pay out in the event of a crash though

they wouldnt have anyway at the time i didnt have any

I am not condoning it but that did crack me up!

[bjrespect]

ha ha

i personaly think its how you feel anyone thats had that injury knows just how painful it is

[Pinkie15]

They looked at the x-rays again and sure enough I had broken my scaphoid too.

It's not just it being removed fella, it's the fact that so many muscles and ligaments haven't been used for months while in cast. You will find you get 'twinges' for various stuff for a long time to come, shopping, table football, badminton, pool just random crap unti it's back in place so to speak. I also find my wrist is a bit restrictive when it's really f'ing cold.

Yeah, scaphoid fractures one of the hardest to diagnose.

Another good point Limecat - Make sure you get physio (don't let them fob you off, get physio), and do actually do the exercises they give. It may not seem like it makes much difference now, but in the long run...


When I did my achilles (not actually torn), 4 wks on crutches and heavy strapping. No physio and I seemed fine. Now years later whenever I walk quickly, or run, I get cramp in my calf in about 30 secs.

[Limecat]

They looked at the x-rays again and sure enough I had broken my scaphoid too.

It's not just it being removed fella, it's the fact that so many muscles and ligaments haven't been used for months while in cast. You will find you get 'twinges' for various stuff for a long time to come, shopping, table football, badminton, pool just random crap unti it's back in place so to speak. I also find my wrist is a bit restrictive when it's really f'ing cold.

Yeah, scaphoid fractures one of the hardest to diagnose.

Another good point Limecat - Make sure you get physio (don't let them fob you off, get physio), and do actually do the exercises they give. It may not seem like it makes much difference now, but in the long run...


When I did my achilles (not actually torn), 4 wks on crutches and heavy strapping. No physio and I seemed fine. Now years later whenever I walk quickly, or run, I get cramp in my calf in about 30 secs.

I get similar since I torn ankle ligaments in a mega rash football challenge during a kick about on the park about 10 years ago.

I knew I had done something straight away as I could stand on it but it hurt like hell. I spent about 6 hours on my feet but as soon as I sat on the end of my bed and took weight off it for about 30 minutes or so the healing process must have started as I went to stand up and couldn't put ANY weight on it at all.

Unless I warm up first I twing them just trying to start a quick run.