Differential Diagnosis for Pain on Left Snuff Box
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Scaphoid fracture: This is the most common cause of pain in the snuff box area, which is the radial side of the wrist. The scaphoid bone is located in this area and is prone to fractures, especially with falls onto an outstretched hand.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- De Quervain's tenosynovitis: This condition involves inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, which can cause pain in the snuff box area.
- Wrist sprain: A sprain of the wrist can cause pain in the snuff box area, especially if the sprain involves the ligaments that connect the bones in this area.
- Radial styloid tenosynovitis: Inflammation of the tendons that attach to the radial styloid (a bony prominence on the radius bone) can cause pain in the snuff box area.
- Do Not Miss diagnoses
- Radial fracture: A fracture of the radius bone can cause pain in the snuff box area and is a potentially serious injury that requires prompt medical attention.
- Ganglion cyst: A ganglion cyst is a non-cancerous lump that can develop on the wrist, including in the snuff box area. While usually benign, it can cause significant pain and discomfort.
- Osteonecrosis of the scaphoid: This is a condition where the blood supply to the scaphoid bone is disrupted, leading to the death of bone tissue. It can cause chronic pain in the snuff box area.
- Rare diagnoses
- Kienbock's disease: This is a rare condition where the blood supply to the lunate bone (one of the bones in the wrist) is disrupted, leading to the death of bone tissue.
- Scapholunate ligament injury: An injury to the ligament that connects the scaphoid and lunate bones can cause pain in the snuff box area, although this is less common than other causes.
- Tumor: A tumor (benign or malignant) in the wrist can cause pain in the snuff box area, although this is a rare cause of pain in this location.