Evaluation of the painful wrist.

Evaluation of wrist pain begins with a review of findings from a thorough medical history, a detailed physical examination, and plain radiographs. If a diagnosis is not forthcoming, additional diagnostic studies may be obtained, including "special" radiographs, bone scans, arthrograms, arthroscopy, and computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans. "Abnormal" findings on these additional studies must be correlated with findings from the medical history and physical examination.