Patient education: Wrist fracture (The Basics)

What is a wrist fracture? — A "fracture" is another word for a broken bone. There are different types of fractures, depending on which bone breaks and how it breaks. When a bone breaks, it might crack, break all of the way through, or shatter.

There are different types of wrist fractures. Some involve a break in 1 of the small bones in the wrist. Others involve a break in 1 or both of the forearm bones near the wrist (figure 1). A common type of wrist fracture involves the end of 1 of the forearm bones. It can happen when a person falls onto their outstretched hand.

What are the symptoms of a wrist fracture? — Symptoms depend on which bone breaks and the type of break it is. Common symptoms can include:

●Pain, swelling, or bruising over the area

●The area looking abnormal, bent, or not the usual shape

●Not being able to move the wrist and hand, or stiffness

●Numbness in the area of the broken bone or part of the hand

Is there a test for a wrist fracture? — Yes. The doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms, do an exam, and take an X-ray. They will also ask about how the injury happened.

They might also do other imaging tests, such as a CT or ultrasound. Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.

How are wrist fractures treated? — Treatment depends, in part, on the type of fracture and how serious it is. The goal is to have the ends of the broken bone line up with each other so the bone can heal.

If the ends of the broken bone are already in line with each other, the doctor will put a cast, splint, or brace on the wrist. This will keep the bone in the correct position so it can heal. Children with a very minor fracture called a "buckle fracture" might only need a gauze or elastic bandage.

If the ends of the broken bone are not in line with each other, the doctor will need to line them up:

●Sometimes, they can move the bone to the correct position without doing surgery, and then put a cast, splint, or brace on. This is called "closed fracture reduction." Most wrist fractures in children only require casting.

●For more serious fractures and for some wrist fractures in adults, they might need to do surgery to put the bone back in the correct position. During surgery, they can use screws, pins, rods, or plates to fix the bone inside the body. This is called "open fracture reduction." In some cases, the hardware is removed after the fracture is healed.

How long do wrist fractures take to heal? — Most fractures take weeks to months to heal. The doctor or nurse will talk to you about when to return to things like work, sports, or other activities.

Healing time also depends on the person. Healthy children usually heal much more quickly than older adults or adults with other medical problems.

How do I care for myself at home? — To care for yourself or your child at home:

●Follow the doctor's instructions for wearing the splint, brace, or cast. This supports and protects the bone as it heals. Some fractures are placed in a cast right away. Other fractures are not put in a cast until after the swelling goes down. You might also get a sling to support your arm and wrist.

●Do not get the cast wet unless the doctor says that it is waterproof.

●Follow instructions for limiting activity and movement until the bone is healed. The doctor or nurse will tell you what activities are safe to do.

●Prop the injured arm on pillows, keeping it above the level of the heart. This might help lessen pain and swelling for the first several days after the injury.

●The doctor might recommend an over-the-counter pain medicine. These include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).

●Some people get a prescription for stronger pain medicines to take for a short time. Follow the instructions for taking these medicines.

●Ice can help with pain and swelling:

•Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the injured area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and the skin.

•Use the ice (or other cold object) for at least 6 hours after the injury. Some people find it helpful to ice longer, even up to 2 days after their injury.

●Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of calcium, vitamin D, and protein (figure 2).

●If you smoke, try to stop. Broken bones take longer to heal if you smoke.

●Some people need to work with a physical therapist (exercise expert) after their fracture heals. The physical therapist will suggest exercises and stretches to strengthen the wrist and hand muscles and keep them from getting stiff.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if:

●There is less feeling or movement in your fingers.

●Your hand or wrist becomes swollen or starts to hurt more.

●Your skin becomes red or irritated around the cast, or the redness starts to spread up your arm.

●The splint or cast feels too tight and uncomfortable.

●There is a bad smell or drainage coming from the splint or cast.

●The cast feels too loose, you notice a crack in the cast, or the cast becomes soft.

●The cast gets wet, and it is not supposed to get wet.

More on this topic

Patient education: Fractures (The Basics)
Patient education: Common wrist injuries (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your child's cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for a splint (The Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (The Basics)
Patient education: Preventing falls in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Giving your child over-the-counter medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Quitting smoking (The Basics)

Patient education: Cast and splint care (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Quitting smoking (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (Beyond the Basics)