The wrist: field evaluation and treatment.

A poorly diagnosed and treated wrist injury could become a career-ending injury. Optimal treatment begins on the playing field, not the operative field. A careful, thorough field evaluation is mandatory to ensure prompt recognition of a potentially debilitating injury. Suspected fractures or ligamentous disruption require immediate referral to a physician for definitive early treatment. When the trainer and physician work as a team, early diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of wrist injuries can be instituted to reach the goal of maintaining functional healthy wrists for future athletic endeavors.