Common Causes of Wrist Fractures
Wrist fractures happen in an instant, but their impact can last for months. Some of the most common causes of wrist fractures that we see include:
- Bone fragility due to osteopenia and osteoporosis
- Falls onto an outstretched hand
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Sports injuries
- Workplace injuries
No two patients get injured the same way, and your treatment plan shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all.
Types of Wrist Fractures
Small shifts in wrist bone position can change how the joint, tendons, and nerves work together. That’s why identifying the exact fracture pattern matters.
Wrist fracture types include:
- Distal radius fracture: The most common wrist fracture, usually caused by falling onto the hand
- Distal ulna fracture: Also called an ulnar styloid fracture, this occurs when the bone on the pinky side of the wrist breaks
- Open fracture: When the bone cuts through the skin, requiring immediate medical care
- Radial fracture: Happens when the tip of the radius bone is broken
- Scaphoid fracture: Caused by a break in one of the carpal bones on the thumb side of the wrist
A “simple break” can become a long-term problem when alignment is off, healing stalls, or joint surfaces don’t match up the way they should.
How We Diagnose and Evaluate Wrist Fractures
Getting the diagnosis right is step one. Getting the full picture is what protects your outcome. This is why our wrist fracture evaluation includes:
- A detailed history covering how the injury happened, symptoms, job demands, and other goals
- A physical exam focused on:
- Grip strength and stability
- Nerve symptoms (numbness, tingling, weakness)
- Swelling and deformity
- Tendon function
- Imaging, which may include CT scan, MRI, and X-ray
Wrist injuries often come with ligament tears, tendon irritation, cartilage damage, or nerve compression. All of those details matter when building a treatment plan that gets you back to normal.
Treatment Options for Wrist Fractures
The right treatment depends on the fracture pattern, bone alignment, joint involvement, and your goals.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Wrist Fractures
Some wrist fractures heal without surgery, especially if the bones remain well-aligned. Non-surgical options may include:
- Closed reduction: Using local anesthesia, a surgeon will manipulate the bones without cutting into the skin
- Immobilization: Splinting or casting to keep bones in place
- Hand therapy: Physical rehab to restore motion, strength, and coordination
- Pain and swelling management: Elevation, ice, and medication guidance
Surgical Treatment Options for Wrist Fractures
Wrist surgery may be recommended when the fracture is displaced, unstable, involves the joint, or is unlikely to heal well in a cast. Depending on your injury, wrist fracture surgery may include:
- Bone grafting: Transplants healthy bone tissue to the area of the wrist that isn’t healing
- External fixation: Stabilizes fractures by using a metal frame connected to the bone with pins
- Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF): After making an incision, a surgeon realigns the bone and stabilizes it with plates, screws, or rods
- Percutaneous screw placement: Screws are inserted through the skin to stabilize bone fragments
- Revision surgery: Addresses any complications, continuing issues, or slowed healing following a prior surgery
The priority is never just getting the bone to heal. It’s about restoring the mechanics of the wrist so you can return to work, sport, and daily life.
Common Wrist Conditions We Treat
Sometimes pain after a wrist fracture points to a related condition. We also treat:
If your wrist feels weak, painful, or unstable weeks or months after injury, it may be a sign that the fracture or an associated injury needs a more specialized plan.
