Flower Mound Distal Radius Fracture (2024)

FAQs

How serious is a distal radius fracture? ›

In severe cases, the fractured bone is so much out of place that it can't be corrected or realigned without making a surgical incision. An open wrist fracture will require surgical treatment as soon as possible. Surgical treatment methods can possibly affect the future use of the forearm or wrist.

Symptoms. When you have a distal radius fracture, you will almost always have a history of a fall or some other kind of trauma. You will usually have pain and swelling in the forearm or wrist.

Some people can still move or use the hand or wrist even if there is a broken bone. Swelling or a bone out of place can make the wrist appear deformed. There is often pain right around the break and with finger movement. Sometimes the fingers tingle or feel numb at the tips.

Nonsurgical Treatment

If the distal radius fracture is in a good position, a splint or cast is applied. It often serves as a final treatment until the bone heals. Usually a cast will remain on for up to six weeks. Then you will be given a removable wrist splint to wear for comfort and support.

Most distal radius fractures take 3 months or so to heal before you are able to return to all activities, and full recovery from these injuries can take up to 1 year.

Distal radius fractures are most frequently diagnosed with an X-ray, but sometimes other imaging is needed. Most patients with distal radius fractures can heal on their own after several weeks in a splint or cast. Some patients will require immediate or urgent surgery to correct the fracture.

Background. Distal radius fractures are common injuries that cause pain and disability.

Primary nerve injuries are rare and secondary factors are more commonly responsible for median nerve dysfunction following distal radius fractures. Secondary factors may include bleeding, fracture displacement, and swelling, as well as the position of the wrist in the cast, splint, or external fixator.

This injury can be treated in a removable cast or wrist splint for 5 weeks, this will provide the support needed for the fracture to heal and will help relieve any pain you may feel. Simple medication such as paracetamol or NSAIDS (non-steroid anti-inflammatories) may help to control your pain.

For those suffering from a broken arm or wrist, lying propped up on pillows is often the most comfortable position. This allows gravity to take some of the strain off of the injured area while keeping it elevated.

Why can't I make a fist after a wrist fracture? ›

A compression element that leaves the wrist in an overly bent position can also affect the median nerve (milder form in this case) and prevent the patient to exert normal strength with his hand or to make a fist”.

Patients with isolated surgically treated distal radius fractures can be recommended for a driving assessment as early as 4–6 weeks post-surgery if pain control is adequate, and clinical parameters for pronation and supination are met.

Tiredness: It is normal to feel very tired after an injury. Take time to rest and recover. Some people find their balance is poor after a wrist fracture. Strength and Stiffness: While your wrist is healing in the cast your muscles become weak and your joints become stiff.

The most obvious distal radius fracture symptoms are immediate pain and tenderness at the wrist. You may also see significant swelling and bruising. In some cases, the wrist may be deformed or bent/twisted in an odd position.

A distal radius fracture (DRF) in the lower arm is one of the most common fractures. DRF leads to pain, a diminished range of motion, and lower grip strength, up to 4 years after fracture. Besides a loss of grip strength and restricted range of motion, impaired sensorimotor control can be related to DRF as well.

If the bones loses alignment or slips, surgery may be required. Broken wrists treated non-operatively are usually casted for 6 weeks. The cast is then removed, patients are given a removable wrist brace and physical therapy is started to help patients regain their range of motion.

Distal radial fracture (DRF) is one of the most common fractures. Fracture reduction and cast treatment is the common practice; however, if good fracture positioning cannot be achieved, open surgical correction and fixation is the most preferred option.