diving with a broken wrist

[castgirl]

Can anyone advise. I am meant to be diving in Tobago in a week's time, but broke my wrist (scafoid bone) three weeks ago. It is in a fibreglass cast. I have heard about a goretex cast liner called Procell that can be used in water. Is it available in the UK? Also, does anyone have medical advice on diving with a broken bone? Could it slow down healing process? I've been told the cast should be on for 6 weeks minimum.

Thanks in advance.

 

[RichLockyer]

Don't dive with any unhealed injury, especially a broken bone.
The changes in blood flow in the injury area are thought to completely invalidate our decompression models. This could lead to anything from delayed healing to a DCS hit.

 

[AKPA]

castgirl once bubbled...
Can anyone advise.

Castgirl,

Sorry to hear about your unfortunate and untimely accident. As Rich mentioned earlier diving with an acute fracture (or even one in the process of healing) can place you at increased risk for DCS. The changes that occur during the healing process (especially swelling and impaired vascular supply to the bone) can alter gas diffusion both in and out of the tissue. I.e. set you up for a DCS Hit.

Further, scaphoid (aka navicular) fractures are notorious for a condition called avascular necrosis and any additional stress placed upon this healing bone can cause you significant problems in the future.

Dr. Chimiak has a brief article on this subject at : http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dandoc/bones.pdf

TT

P.S. Procell is a great product but very expensive. Many orthopedists will not carry it because of the cost. You may need to order it directly from the manufacturer. I went this route with my nephew when he was taking SCUBA lessons. But we were limited to 9’ at the deep end of a pool.

 

[castgirl]

Thanks guys.
Looks like I'm on the boat this trip!

 

[chickdiver]

Youmade the right decision- but here's a little from the voice of experience....
Last Januaury I broke the radial head (elbow) and the smaller bone in my forearm. Due to the nature of the breaks- it wasn't immediately obvious that I hadbroken anything, and I didn't have it diagnosed until 2 days later. The fractures also weren't castable, and I was placed in a removable (for bathing etc. for the first 10 days) splint. I was in a situation where I HAD to dive the next weekend- I knew I wouldn't have to do much, but I had to get in the water. I used a SAM splint inside my drysuit, and proceeded to dive. I had some incrediblr pain as a result, since it got bumped around a couple of times. When I saw my doctor the next week, and theyre-X rayed- he said "If I had seen this X Ray a week ago you would already have had surgery" (that radial head fracture often has to be surgically repaired, and mine had initially been borerline). So... my advice- DONT DO IT. Its not worth the pain or potential consequences (mine, btw, turned out just fine).