Wrist problems in the tennis player.

Although wrist injuries in tennis may occur from acute direct trauma, most injuries occur due to chronic overuse. Wrist biomechanics in tennis indicate that a wide range of wrist motion may not be necessary for effective play. The nature of the injury should be established as early as possible with the goals of restoring the wrist to a pain-free stable unit with normal range of motion. A secondary goal is to return the athlete to play as quickly as possible. Key points of the athlete's history are acute or chronic onset, progressive symptoms, and severity of symptoms, i.e., limitation of play. Key points of the physical examination include localization of maximal tenderness, edema, loss of range of motion, and bilateral grip strength. Plain roentgenograms should always be obtained. Specific imaging studies may be indicated and include bone scan, computed tomography, and arthrography. Specific and common wrist tennis injuries are discussed and treatment recommendations are given. Wrist problems in tennis are no uncommon and are responsible for a significant amount of lost playing time. Familiarity with the more common problems will enhance the physician's ability to evaluate and treat these athletes.