Wrist Fractures - For general patient education only. Not intended for diagnostic or treatment purposes.
The commonest cause for wrist fractures, is a fall on the out-stretched hand. Of-course, they may also be part of several fractures, in a poly-trauma, as that may occur following a Road Traffic Accident. Commonly the bone involved at the wrist is that of the Radius, with sometimes the Ulna too. The tiny bones called the carpal bones, may be involved too, but un-common.
The Distal end fractures of the radius may be displaced (seperated fractured fragments), or un-displaced. Clinically, the patient will have pain swelling, and sometimes deformity. The treating doctor will assess for other injuries like that of the soft-tissues, blood-vessels and nerves. X-rays will be needed, sometimes ct-scans will add value.
The un-displaced fractures are usually treated with immobilisation of the wrist with plaster application, and careful observation for a couple of weeks to check for displacement. If they remain un-displaced, plaster treatment may continue till upto 6 weeks. After which physiotherapy maybe instituted to treat the ensuing stiffness of the wrist.
The displaced fractures, usually need Manipulation, under some kind of anaesthesia and plaster application, or fixation if they require, for stability. The fixation maybe by K-wires, driven across fracture fragments, by an External-fixator or by open reduction and internal fixation by plates and screws.
Example of Specialised Locking Plates used for wrist fractures.
X-ray of a Volar Plate, for a wrist fracture.
The commonest cause for wrist fractures, is a fall on the out-stretched hand. Of-course, they may also be part of several fractures, in a poly-trauma, as that may occur following a Road Traffic Accident. Commonly the bone involved at the wrist is that of the Radius, with sometimes the Ulna too. The tiny bones called the carpal bones, may be involved too, but un-common.
The Distal end fractures of the radius may be displaced (seperated fractured fragments), or un-displaced. Clinically, the patient will have pain swelling, and sometimes deformity. The treating doctor will assess for other injuries like that of the soft-tissues, blood-vessels and nerves. X-rays will be needed, sometimes ct-scans will add value.
The un-displaced fractures are usually treated with immobilisation of the wrist with plaster application, and careful observation for a couple of weeks to check for displacement. If they remain un-displaced, plaster treatment may continue till upto 6 weeks. After which physiotherapy maybe instituted to treat the ensuing stiffness of the wrist.
The displaced fractures, usually need Manipulation, under some kind of anaesthesia and plaster application, or fixation if they require, for stability. The fixation maybe by K-wires, driven across fracture fragments, by an External-fixator or by open reduction and internal fixation by plates and screws.
Example of Specialised Locking Plates used for wrist fractures. X-ray of a Volar Plate, for a wrist fracture.
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