A hand or wrist X-ray shows the many small bones of the hand and wrist. Here is what it can show, why some wrist fractures are hard to see at first, and how referral works for a private X-ray.
Search X-ray providers near youThe hand and wrist contain many small bones and joints, and a fall onto an outstretched hand is a common way to injure them. An X-ray is a quick test that shows these bones, and it is often used to check for a break after an injury or to look at joint changes from arthritis.
FindScan is a directory and enquiry service, not a healthcare provider. We do not scan anyone or give medical advice. You can compare private clinics that offer hand and wrist X-rays, see each clinic's own listed price, and send an enquiry to the clinic you choose.
X-rays are good at showing bone. A hand or wrist X-ray shows the finger bones, the bones of the palm, the small bones of the wrist and the ends of the forearm bones, along with their alignment and any obvious break. It can also show changes in the joints that develop with arthritis.
X-rays are not the usual test for soft tissues such as tendons and ligaments. If a clinician suspects a soft tissue problem that needs imaging, they may suggest an ultrasound or an MRI. See our pages on private ultrasound and private MRI.
A clinician may request a hand or wrist X-ray for reasons such as:
The NHS says osteoarthritis most often causes problems in the knees, hips and small joints of the hands. It says a GP can usually diagnose osteoarthritis by asking about your symptoms and examining your joints, and that further tests such as X-rays or blood tests are not usually necessary, but may be used to rule out other possible causes, such as rheumatoid arthritis or a fractured bone. If you have hand pain without an injury, seeing a GP first is usually the best starting point. Our guide on seeing a GP before a scan explains why.
The scaphoid is one of the small bones in the wrist, near the base of the thumb. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust explains that sometimes the broken pieces of a scaphoid fracture stay close to each other and a fracture line is not visible on X-rays. In that case the wrist is treated as a suspected fracture and immobilised in a splint until it can be reassessed, and an MRI scan may be arranged if a scaphoid fracture is still suspected.
NICE guidance on non-complex fractures recommends that clinicians consider MRI for first-line imaging in people with suspected scaphoid fractures, following a thorough clinical examination. This is a decision for the clinician assessing your injury. If you have hurt your wrist and have pain near the base of the thumb, get it assessed through urgent NHS care rather than relying on a single X-ray, and follow the advice you are given about splinting and follow-up.
A private X-ray is not the right route for an obvious or serious injury. The NHS broken arm or wrist page advises asking for help from NHS 111 if it is very painful or you cannot use it because of the pain, or if there is a large amount of swelling or bruising, or it is getting worse. It advises going to A&E or calling 999 if:
At hospital, the NHS says an X-ray is used to see if there is a break and how bad the break is. If you are not sure where to go, NHS 111 can advise you.
X-rays use ionising radiation, so they are covered by the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017, known as IR(ME)R. Under these regulations every exposure must be requested by a referrer, who supplies the relevant medical information, and must be justified and authorised by a practitioner as showing a sufficient net benefit. The justification must consider the benefits, the risks, and alternative techniques that involve less or no ionising radiation.
This means you cannot simply ask for an X-ray without a clinical reason. A referral may come from your GP, a physiotherapist, a hand therapist, a consultant or another suitable clinician. Some private clinics arrange the referral through their own doctor or a clinical review of your symptoms. Each clinic sets out its own process, so check when you enquire. Our guide to getting an X-ray without a GP referral explains the options.
You will usually be asked to remove rings, watches, bracelets and other metal from the hand and arm being imaged, so it helps to leave jewellery at home where you can. Tell the clinic beforehand if you are pregnant or might be pregnant. IR(ME)R requires staff to ask anyone of childbearing potential whether they are pregnant or breastfeeding, where relevant.
You usually sit beside the X-ray table and rest your hand or wrist on it. The radiographer positions your hand, sometimes in more than one position, and you keep still while each image is taken. The X-ray itself is quick and painless, and you can usually leave once it is done. Our guide on how to prepare for your scan has general tips.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) publishes typical doses for common examinations. For limbs and joints other than the hip, which includes the hand and wrist, it lists a typical effective dose of less than 0.01 mSv, equivalent to less than 1.5 days of natural background radiation, with a lifetime additional risk of fatal cancer of 1 in a few million. Even so, IR(ME)R requires every exposure to be justified. Read more in our X-ray radiation safety guide.
Your images are reported by an appropriately qualified clinician. Report times differ between providers, so the clinic will tell you how long its report takes. The report usually goes to whoever referred you, who can explain the findings and discuss next steps. See our guide on how long scan results take.
Prices vary from clinic to clinic. They can depend on whether the hand, the wrist or both are imaged, whether one or both sides are needed, the number of views, whether a clinical review or referral is included, and the region. FindScan shows each clinic's own listed price, as set by the clinic, without mark-up. Our guide to private X-ray costs in the UK covers what to ask about.
Search for X-ray clinics near you, compare locations and listed prices, and check how each clinic handles the referral step. When you have chosen a clinic, send an enquiry through FindScan and we will pass your details to that clinic, which will contact you directly. See clinics near you or read more about private X-rays.
It can happen with the scaphoid. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust explains that sometimes a scaphoid fracture line is not visible on X-rays, so the wrist is treated as a suspected fracture and reassessed, with an MRI if needed. NICE recommends that clinicians consider MRI as first-line imaging for suspected scaphoid fractures after a thorough clinical examination.
No. The NHS advises going to A&E or calling 999 if the wrist has changed shape, a bone is sticking out, there is heavy bleeding, or it is numb or tingling. For severe pain or swelling, contact NHS 111 for advice on where to go.
An X-ray can show changes in the joints, but the NHS says osteoarthritis can usually be diagnosed by a GP from your symptoms and an examination, and that X-rays are not usually necessary, though they may be used to rule out other causes.
Every X-ray must be requested by a referrer and justified under IR(ME)R 2017. Some private clinics arrange this through their own doctor or a clinical review, while others ask for a referral from your GP, physiotherapist or consultant.
X-rays mainly show bone, so they are not the usual test for nerves, tendons or ligaments. A GP or specialist can advise which test, if any, is suitable for your symptoms.
UKHSA lists a typical effective dose of less than 0.01 mSv for X-rays of limbs and joints other than the hip, equivalent to less than 1.5 days of natural background radiation.
FindScan is a directory and enquiry service, not a healthcare provider, and nothing here is medical advice. Speak to a GP or another clinician about your symptoms.