Like any injury, recognizing the symptoms of a broken wrist and other fractures is essential. This is because addressing distal radius fractures right away can significantly impact healing and long-term wrist function.
Some common symptoms to watch for include:
- Immediate pain in the wrist or forearm, especially when trying to move the hand.
- Numbness or tingling, which may suggest nerve involvement if the injury is severe.
- Swelling and bruising around the wrist, often appearing soon after the injury.
- Tenderness to touch and difficulty bearing weight or using the hand.
- Visible deformity, such as a bent or crooked wrist, indicating a displaced fracture.
Because wrist fractures can present differently depending on the angle and force of the injury, not all breaks are immediately obvious. If you experience pain, swelling, or limited movement after a fall—even without visible deformity—it’s best to seek medical evaluation to rule out a fracture.
Diagnostic Tools Used and When to Seek Medical Attention
Doctors typically use physical exams and imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, or occasionally MRI scans, to confirm a distal radius fracture and assess its severity. If you experience a wrist injury followed by significant pain, swelling, deformity, or loss of movement, it's important to schedule a consultation with a specialist immediately.
Treatment Options for Distal Radius Fractures
Non-surgical treatment is typically recommended for stable distal radius fractures—when the broken bones remain aligned and don’t require repositioning. These cases are usually treated with immobilization using a splint or cast, along with pain management and physical therapy to restore motion after healing.
When the fracture is unstable, displaced, or involves the joint surface, however, surgical intervention may be necessary to ensure proper alignment and healing. One of the most common procedures for displaced fractures is an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF).
During ORIF, the surgeon makes an incision to access the fracture, repositions the broken bone fragments into proper alignment, and secures them with metal plates and screws.
Other surgical options may include:
- Bone grafting, a procedure that involves transplanting healthy bone tissue to the area where there is a nonunion.
- External fixation, which involves stabilizing fractures using a metal frame outside the body, connected to the bone with pins.
- Percutaneous screw placement, a less invasive method in which screws are inserted through the skin to hold bone fragments in place.
- Revision surgery, which is used to reassess and address any issues from previous surgical approaches that failed to heal the fracture.
In appropriate cases, surgical treatment offers several benefits over non-surgical methods, including greater stability, quicker restoration of function, and lower risk of long-term deformity or stiffness. However, the choice of treatment depends on the type of fracture, patient age, activity level, and overall health.
