Triquetral Fracture: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Healing Time

Your wrist is basically an 8-bone “rock tumbler” that somehow lets you type, lift, high-five, and dramatically point at charts during meetings.
When one of those little bones cracksespecially the triquetrumit can feel unfairly painful for something the size of a jellybean.
The good news: most triquetral fractures heal well with the right diagnosis, the right immobilization, and the right amount of patience (the hardest ingredient).

This guide breaks down what a triquetral fracture is, the classic symptoms, common causes, how it’s diagnosed, your treatment options, and what healing time
typically looks likeplus a real-life “what it feels like” section at the end so you’re not stuck Googling at 2 a.m. with a throbbing wrist.

What Is a Triquetral Fracture?

The triquetrum is one of the carpal bones in your wrist, sitting on the ulnar (pinky) side in the proximal row of carpal bones.
A triquetral fracture means that bone has cracked or broken. It’s often described as the second most common carpal bone fracture after
the scaphoid, and many cases happen after a fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH), especially with the wrist extended.

Common fracture patterns (a.k.a. the “how did it break?” categories)

• Dorsal chip (dorsal cortical) fracture: The most common type. A small fragment chips off the back (dorsal side) of the triquetrum.
• Body fracture: A crack through the main portion of the bone; less common, sometimes easier to miss, and more likely to be significant if displaced.
• Volar (palmar) avulsion fracture: A small fragment pulls off on the palm side, often related to ligament forces and sometimes associated with instability.

Symptoms: What a Triquetral Fracture Feels Like

The most common complaint is ulnar-sided wrist pain (pinky-side wrist pain), usually after a fall, sports collision, or blunt impact.
Symptoms range from “annoying sore wrist” to “I cannot open a jar and I’m deeply offended by it.”

Typical symptoms

• Pain on the back and ulnar side of the wrist, often worse with wrist extension (bending the wrist back)
• Swelling and tenderness over the dorsal ulnar wrist
• Reduced range of motion, especially extension
• Grip weakness or pain with gripping, pushing up from a chair, or doing a push-up
• Bruising (sometimes) or a general “something is not right” feeling after trauma

Important nuance: triquetral fractures can masquerade as a “bad wrist sprain.” If pain stays stubbornespecially on the dorsal ulnar sidegetting imaging is smart.

Causes and Risk Factors

Most triquetral fractures happen from trauma, especially a fall onto an outstretched hand with the wrist in extension. Depending on the wrist position,
the triquetrum can be struck by neighboring structures or stressed by ligament forces. Sports (skateboarding, snowboarding, football, basketball),
cycling falls, and slips on wet floors are common real-world setups.

Risk factors that make fractures more likely (or recovery more annoying)

• High-impact falls or contact sports
• Activities with speed + hard surfaces (skating, biking, scooters)
• Low bone density (osteopenia/osteoporosis), especially in older adults
• Smoking (linked to slower bone healing in many fracture types)
• Returning to activity too early (the “it felt fine yesterday” trap)

How It’s Diagnosed

Diagnosis usually starts with a physical exam and wrist X-rays. Clinicians look for localized tenderness and evaluate motion, swelling, and signs of instability.
Standard wrist X-ray views may show the fracture, but small dorsal chip fractures can be subtle.

Imaging you might hear about

• X-ray: Often the first step. Some triquetral fractures are easiest to spot on specific views.
• CT scan: Helpful if X-rays are unclear or to better define a body fracture, displacement, or complex fracture anatomy.
• MRI: Useful when pain persists but X-rays look “normal,” or when ligament injury is suspected.

Because ulnar-sided wrist pain can also come from ligament injuries (like the TFCC) or other carpal fractures, imaging is partly about
confirming the triquetrum and partly about ruling out other troublemakers.

Treatment Options

Here’s the headline: most triquetral fractures are treated without surgery. The goal is to protect the wrist so the bone can heal and pain can settle,
then restore motion and strength gradually.

Non-surgical treatment (most common)

For many dorsal chip fractures and nondisplaced fractures, treatment typically includes:

• Immobilization with a wrist splint, brace, or short-arm cast
• Rest, elevation, and ice early on to reduce swelling
• Pain control (often acetaminophen or NSAIDs if appropriate for you)
• Follow-up to confirm symptoms are improving and function is returning

Immobilization commonly lasts around 4–6 weeks for many cases, though the exact duration depends on fracture type, symptoms, and your clinician’s plan.
Some patients start in a splint (to accommodate swelling) and transition to a cast or a more structured brace.

When surgery is considered

Surgery is less common, but it may be discussed if there is:

• Displacement (the fracture fragment has shifted)
• Instability in the wrist (ligament injury, perilunate patterns, etc.)
• Body fractures that are not stable or are hard to treat with immobilization alone
• Nonunion (the fracture doesn’t heal) or painful malunion (healed in a problematic position), which is rare but possible

Surgical options vary by situation and can include fixation (using screws or wires) or, in select cases, excision of a persistently symptomatic fragment.
If surgery enters the chat, it’s usually because the fracture pattern is more complex than a simple dorsal chip.

Healing Time: What to Expect (Without the Sugarcoating)

“How long until it’s normal again?” is the big questionand the honest answer is: it depends on the fracture pattern, how quickly it’s diagnosed,
whether there’s ligament injury, and how well you can protect the wrist during healing.

A practical timeline (typical, not a promise)

• First 1–2 weeks: Swelling and pain are usually the worst early on. Immobilization helps. Daily tasks feel weird.
• Weeks 3–6: Many people remain in a splint/cast/brace. Pain often improves, but certain motions still sting.
• Weeks 6–8: Many uncomplicated fractures have meaningful healing by this point, and structured motion/rehab often ramps up.
• Weeks 8–12+: Strength and endurance rebuild. Higher-risk activities and sports may require more time and a guided return.

Even when the bone is “healed,” stiffness can linger. That’s not you being dramaticthat’s your wrist being a complicated joint with lots of small moving parts.
Rehab matters because it’s what helps you get function back, not just X-ray satisfaction.

Rehab and Return to Activity

Once immobilization ends (or loosens), the focus shifts to range of motion first, then strength, then load tolerance
(pushing, pulling, weight-bearing on the wrist).

Common rehab goals

• Regain comfortable wrist flexion/extension and side-to-side motion
• Restore grip strength (the sneaky limiting factor)
• Rebuild confidence with weight-bearing tasks (push-ups, planks, lifting)
• Prevent “protective stiffness” from lasting longer than needed

A hand therapist or physical/occupational therapist can be hugely helpfulespecially if you’re stiff, you type for a living, you lift for fun,
or your sport involves falls, impact, or catching yourself.

Possible Complications (Rare, but Worth Knowing)

Most people do well, but complications can happenoften due to missed diagnosis, associated injuries, or returning too soon.
Things clinicians watch for include:

• Persistent stiffness (very common, usually improves with time and therapy)
• Chronic ulnar-sided wrist pain (sometimes related to ligament injury or joint irritation)
• Nonunion (rare; more relevant for certain fracture types)
• Instability if ligaments are involved
• Post-traumatic arthritis in complex or poorly aligned injuries

When to Get Medical Care (Now, Not Later)

Seek urgent evaluation if you have any of the following after a fall or impact:

• Severe pain, obvious deformity, or you can’t move your wrist/fingers normally
• Numbness/tingling, cold fingers, or color changes (circulation/nerve concerns)
• Rapid swelling, worsening pain, or pain that doesn’t improve over a few days
• You were told “it’s just a sprain,” but the wrist still hurts in the same spot after 1–2 weeks

Prevention Tips (Because Falling Is Not a Hobby)

• Wear wrist guards for high-fall-risk sports (skating, snowboarding, etc.)
• Strengthen grip and forearm muscles to support wrist stability
• Address slip hazards at home (especially during “socks on hardwood” season)
• Build bone health: adequate calcium/vitamin D, resistance training, and medical guidance if you’re at risk for low bone density

Conclusion

A triquetral fracture can be a sneaky wrist injuryoften painful, sometimes subtle on initial imaging, and easily mistaken for a sprain.
The upside is that most cases heal well with immobilization, a smart rehab plan, and a gradual return to activity.
The key is respecting the timeline: protect first, move second, strengthen third, and only then go back to doing things that involve catching yourself like a human airbag.

If you suspect a triquetral fracture (especially with ulnar-sided wrist pain after a fall), get evaluated. The sooner you treat it correctly,
the less likely you are to deal with lingering stiffness or chronic pain down the road.

Real-Life Experiences and Tips (About )

The textbook version of a triquetral fracture is neat and tidy: fall, pain, X-ray, splint, heal. Real life is messierusually because wrists are used for
everything and we keep forgetting that “rest” is a verb, not a vibe.

Experience #1: The desk-worker surprise. One common story is a person who slips on a wet step, lands on their hand, and thinks they “just jammed” their wrist.
The next day, typing feels sharp, pouring coffee feels suspicious, and pushing up from a chair feels like a betrayal. A brace helps, but only if it stays on.
The big lesson here is that a removable brace can be a blessing and a temptation. People often feel better after a few days and start “testing” the wrist
by twisting doorknobs, lifting grocery bags, or doing that one thing they were told not to do. Pain flares, swelling returns, and the healing clock feels like it resets.
Tip: treat the brace like a seatbeltwear it for the ride, not just for the crash.

Experience #2: The weekend athlete who hates downtime. Another frequent scenario is a basketball or pickleball fall, with pain on the pinky side of the wrist
that gets worse with extension. These folks often try to “play through it” because the wrist isn’t visibly deformed. What surprises them is how much the wrist matters
for grip and stability: shooting, catching, push-offs, even bracing during a stumble. When they finally get checked, they’re annoyed… but also relieved it’s a known issue.
Tip: if you return to sport, do it like you’re negotiating with your future self. Start with low-risk drills, then controlled practice, and only then full-speed play.
If you can’t do a pain-free plank or gentle push-up progression (when cleared), game time is probably premature.

Experience #3: The cyclist’s “handlebar handshake.” Cyclists who crash often land on an outstretched hand or take a direct hit through the handlebars.
Afterward, gripping the bars hurts, and vibration from the road feels like a tiny villain tapping the fracture all day. The best practical advice tends to be:
(1) don’t ignore handlebar pain that persists, (2) adjust your setup during recoverythicker grips, padded gloves, and a more upright position if you’re cleared to ride,
and (3) be honest about what “light activity” means. Light should feel boring, not brave.

Across these experiences, the emotional pattern is the same: you feel better before you’re fully healed. That’s normal.
Bone pain can settle early while stiffness and weakness lag behind. That’s why rehab mattersgentle motion and strength work (when cleared) help prevent the wrist from
turning into a cranky hinge. If you’re frustrated, remind yourself: you’re not training for patience, you’re training for function.

Quick reality check: If pain is worsening, numbness appears, swelling spikes, or you can’t use your hand normally, don’t “tough it out.” Get re-evaluated.
A triquetral fracture is usually very manageablebut only if it’s treated like a fracture and not like an inconvenient rumor.