On Behalf of Simon & Gilman, LLP | Oct 15, 2022 | Personal Injury, Slip, Trip And Fall |
“FOOSH” is an acronym used in orthopedic medicine; it stands for “fall onto an outstretched hand.”
There are many types of injuries that can result from FOOSH. They range in severity and some can take a long time to heal or require surgery. Healthline describes some common injuries that can result from a fall onto an outstretched hand.
1. Distal radioulnar joint fracture
The radius and the ulna are the two main bones in the forearm. The distal radioulnar joint is the point where they meet. When a fracture occurs at this joint, it can be difficult to restore the bone fragments to their anatomic position for healing. This type of injury usually requires surgical treatment.
2. Cellulitis
If the fall breaks the skin, the wound becomes contaminated or the patient has a compromised immune system, he or she could develop cellulitis, a deep skin infection at the fracture site. The infection could spread to the bone, a potentially dangerous situation.
3. Scaphoid fracture
The human wrist consists of eight small bones, one of which is the scaphoid. The scaphoid bone is on the thumb side of the wrist. A scaphoid fracture is one of the most common FOOSH injuries. However, it is also prone to misdiagnosis because it does not typically cause any deformity of the thumb or wrist. Therefore, people often mistake a scaphoid fracture for a sprain or strain of the thumb.
While most patients recover fully from FOOSH injuries, they can have serious complications. For example, cellulitis can lead to sepsis if the infection spreads elsewhere in the body. A scaphoid fracture can lead to reduced blood flow, which could lead to gangrene.
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