Wrist Effusion
A wrist effusion is excess fluid within the wrist joint, usually reflecting inflammation, injury, or infection.
When to get help quickly: Urgent review is important if the wrist is very hot, red, and painful, if there is fever, or if swelling follows significant trauma.
Common symptoms
Symptoms often include wrist swelling, pain, stiffness, warmth, and reduced movement, sometimes after injury and sometimes without a clear injury.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps confirm that fluid is present, look for ligament injury or hidden fracture, and assess whether inflammation or infection may be contributing.
What radiology does
Ultrasound and MRI help show the fluid, synovitis, ligament injury, or occult fracture causing the swelling.
What usually happens next
Treatment depends on the cause and may include rest, splinting, aspiration, antibiotics, or rheumatology or orthopedic care.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.