A wrist effusion is excess fluid within the wrist joint, usually reflecting inflammation, injury, or infection.
Symptoms often include wrist swelling, pain, stiffness, warmth, and reduced movement, sometimes after injury and sometimes without a clear injury.
Imaging helps confirm that fluid is present, look for ligament injury or hidden fracture, and assess whether inflammation or infection may be contributing.
Ultrasound and MRI help show the fluid, synovitis, ligament injury, or occult fracture causing the swelling.
Treatment depends on the cause and may include rest, splinting, aspiration, antibiotics, or rheumatology or orthopedic care.
This entry explains the finding. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.