Imaging of athletic wrist and hand injuries.

Sports-related injuries of the wrist and hand are commonly encountered in clinical practice. Athletic injuries create special challenges for the orthopedic surgeon and radiologist, as these patients expect to recover quickly and return to the same athletic endeavors that caused their original injuries. A thorough understanding of the mechanism of injury and imaging findings are necessary for accurate diagnosis and effective therapy. This knowledge allows the clinician to effectively educate the athlete concerning the risks, complications, and prognosis of the injury and its treatment. This article will review mechanisms of injury, imaging findings, and some therapeutic options of common sports-related injuries to the wrist and hand.