What is a wrist fracture?
A wrist fracture is a broken bone in the wrist. There are eight small bones in the wrist connected to two long forearm bones. The most common wrist fracture happens when the long forearm bone breaks close to the wrist. This type of break is called a distal radius fracture. Sometimes a break in the bone extends into the wrist joint.
Getting treatment for a wrist fracture right away can ensure the bones heal properly. Our team at Penn Orthopaedics includes doctors with the expertise and experience to treat every type of fracture, trauma, and injury of the hand and wrist.
Wrist fracture symptoms
Symptoms of a broken wrist might include:
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Bruising
- Swelling
- A bent wrist
- Stiffness
- Numbness or tingling in your fingers
If the break is severe, it can affect your nerves and make your fingers numb. If your fingers are numb or losing color, go to urgent care or the emergency room. Treatment can relieve your pain and help prevent nerve damage.
If you have carpal tunnel syndrome and a broken wrist, Penn Medicine hand specialists can alleviate the pressure on nerves after a wrist fracture. Taking pressure off the nerves reduces pain and allows your hand to function as usual.
What can cause a wrist fracture?
Common causes of a broken wrist include:
- A fall from a height and catching yourself with your hands
- A sports injury
- An auto accident
If you have osteoporosis, you don’t have to experience a bad fall to break your wrist. A minor fall onto your wrist, such as from a standing position, can cause a fracture.
Diagnosing a wrist fracture
If you have signs of a wrist fracture, such as pain and swelling, your doctor examines your wrist and orders tests. Imaging tests can show one or more broken bones and if the bones need to be moved back into place to heal properly. Your doctor may also check how well your bones are healing with regular imaging tests. An X-ray is a common test for diagnosing a broken wrist, but other imaging tests may also be used.
Treating a wrist fracture
When deciding on treatment for a broken wrist, your doctor considers the type of fracture, your age, and your activity level. If your bones have moved out of place, treatment involves moving the bones back into place to allow them to heal properly.
Some fractures can be treated without surgery. You might need a splint or a cast to immobilize your wrist so the bones can heal. Some people wear an external fixator frame to hold the wrist in place while the bones heal.
After your doctor removes the cast, you might have physical therapy to help with stiffness and movement.
A fractured wrist may hurt for up to a couple of weeks. To relieve pain:
- Apply ice to the wrist
- Elevate the wrist by propping it above your heart
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers
If the break in the bone extends into the wrist joint, you may need wrist fracture surgery. A surgeon makes an incision in your wrist to realign the bones and places metal pins or a plate and screws to hold the bones in place. Penn Medicine surgeons use many different types of pain medications to relieve your pain after surgery while minimizing the use of opiate medication.
After a broken wrist heals, most people can return to their regular activities.
Penn Medicine’s expertise in hand and wrist fracture treatment
Penn Medicine has a team of experts who specialize in hand and wrist fracture treatment. Penn orthopaedic and plastic surgeons see you as soon as possible after an injury to evaluate the severity of the fracture and get you started on treatment. Surgeons talk with you about your options and consider your input when recommending treatment.
Penn Medicine’s highly skilled surgeons can treat hand and wrist injuries that need multiple types of surgeries. Our surgeons also conduct specialized microvascular procedures to repair bones and soft tissues when needed.