Is it possible to fracture your scaphoid by hitting a person?

Hello spankie,

Thanks for your question.

I would say the answer to your question is, yes, it is definitely
possible.  It is a very common injury.  Each bone in your body can
handle a certain amount of stress before it 'gives way'.  The other
bones and surrounding tissues in your body are designed in such a way
as to share the stress with everything else, thereby keeping a force
from concentrating in a specific area as much as possible.  However,
the design cannot help you in every situation due to the nature of
physics.  If your wrist was turned a certain way at the moment of
impact, and there was sufficient force, and it would probably also
depend largely on where you hit the person, it could certainly cause
your scaphoid to fracture.  Exactly what the sufficient force would be
will largely depend on the individual.  Here is some information
regarding this subject:

Office Management of Scaphoid Fractures
http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1996/08_96/gutierez.htm

Scaphoid Fractures
http://www.amirmd.com/ortho-info/scafoidfx.html

Scaphoid Fractures FAQ
http://www.arthroscopy.com/sp04013.htm

Scaphoid Fractures
http://www.fpnotebook.com/ORT350.htm

This can be a somewhat serious injury if left untreated, so my
suggestion is that you see your doctor and get an examination of your
wrist.  I hope this helps.

Best Regards,

watershed-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by spankie-ga on 08 Nov 2002 07:40 PST

to clarify what would be the likely cause of a scaphoid fracture
either hitting a person or putting my hand out to stop myself falling?

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Clarification of Answer by watershed-ga on 08 Nov 2002 07:49 PST

Hello spankie,

In all of the literature I have read, putting your hand out to stop
yourself from falling was the number one cause for scaphoid fractures.
 So, I would say it is more likely that that is the cause.

Hope this helps.

watershed-ga