Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) Practice Test

Which of the following conditions is characterized by pain and swelling in the anatomical snuff box?

1. Scaphoid-navicular fracture

2. De Quervain's disease

3. Lunate dislocation

4. Capitate dislocation

The correct answer is: Scaphoid-navicular fracture

The condition characterized by pain and swelling in the anatomical snuff box is indeed a scaphoid-navicular fracture. The anatomical snuff box is a triangular deepening on the radial aspect of the wrist, and it is bordered by tendons of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis on the radial side, and the tendon of the extensor pollicis longus on the ulnar side. When a scaphoid fracture occurs, typically from a fall onto an outstretched hand, it often results in pain localized to this area. The scaphoid bone, being one of the carpal bones located in the wrist, is crucial for wrist stability and function, which is why an injury here can manifest as pain and swelling specifically in the anatomical snuff box. Other conditions listed may cause wrist pain but typically do not present with the same specific signs. For example, De Quervain's disease primarily affects the tendons in the area and is characterized by pain along the radial side of the wrist without the specific snuff box findings associated with a scaphoid fracture. Lunate and capitate dislocations can cause wrist pain and swelling, but they generally involve other presentations rather than