Treatment Options For Wrist Fractures
Wrist fracture usually refers to a fracture of the radius, one of the two bones in the forearm. Scaphoid or ulna fractures are also considered wrist fractures. Wrist fractures can threaten the integrity of the wrist and forearm, but with effective treatment most cases can be resolved with full function restored.
About Wrist Fractures
Wrist fractures are one of the most common fractures overall. In fact, around 1 in 6 fractures treated in the emergency room is a wrist fracture. Wrist fractures most commonly occur after sudden trauma to the wrist, usually a fall. Breaking a fall with the wrist can produce a fracture even though most falls produce no such problems. Athletes and elderly people are particularly prone to wrist and other fractures.
Symptoms
Because fractures are usually a traumatic injury, it’s often immediately obvious that something is wrong. Symptoms include:
- Wrist pain
- Swelling
- Visible deformity of the wrist
A trained physician can normally identify a wrist fracture just by examining the wrist. However, an x-ray will always be taken so that the doctor knows exactly where and how severe the fracture is. X-rays reveal how stable the wrist is and whether the fractured bone is in the proper position.
If a broken wrist is suspected, it is important to seek treatment right away. A broken bone is a medical emergency, and prompt treatment gives the best chance for a positive outcome. Untreated broken bones can lead to severe issues such as compartment syndrome or permanent loss of function of the wrist joint.
Treatment Options
Most of the time, a wrist fracture can be treated with a cast. During this type of treatment, the doctor applies a hard cast that immobilizes the wrist, allowing the bone to heal undisturbed. The cast will usually come off after several weeks. Once the cast is removed, physical therapy is used to restore function to the wrist and arm.
If the bone is out of its proper position, it may be necessary to perform open reduction and internal fixation. The decision to do surgery is also based on the health and needs of the patient, and surgery is most commonly used for young athletes who require full use of the wrist.
During this procedure, the doctor performs surgery on the wrist. First, the bone is put back in its normal position (open reduction). Then, the bone is secured with rods, screws, plates or pins (internal fixation). After the surgery, the treatment for fractures that require surgery is similar to the treatment of fractures that only require casting.
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