Distal Radial Fractures

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Distal Radial Fractures

Fractures of the end of the radius bone are called Distal Radial Fractures.

Distal Radial Fractures are very common and most often occur when you fall and land upon your outstretched hand (if you attended the Emergency Department you will probably have the word FOOSH written in your notes as it is so common as to have an abbreviation (Fall On OutStretched Hand). The bone may be broken into the wrist joint (intra-articular) or not (extra-articular), and the fracture may be displaced or un-displaced. About half of the time the tip of the end of the ulna bone (ulnar styloid) also breaks. The ulnar fracture usually does not require fixation or treatment.

Osteoporosis

If you have suffered a fracture and are middle-aged, and especially if you are a woman and you have osteoporosis, or are at an increased risk of a future fracture, please seek medical help. If you are not already on treatment for osteoporosis, it would be wise to see your General Practitioner to ask for advice for investigation or treatment. Alternatively, if Mr Jarrett has not discussed osteoporosis with you, he can refer you to an appropriate medical practitioner to investigate matters.

How are Distal Radial Fractures treated?

Distal Radial Fractures –
Post-Fracture and Post-Operative Care

It is sensible to keep your wrist elevated for several days after injury to reduce swelling and to keep your fingers, elbow and shoulder moving to reduce stiffness.

If the fracture is treated with a splint or cast without surgery, then once the splint or cast is removed at approximately the 6-week mark your wrist will be quite stiff and still somewhat uncomfortable. Exercises and a period of some months will be required to improve maximally.

It is also not necessarily the case that your wrist will return to normal. Breaking a wrist is a significant injury. It is often the case that many of the soft tissue structures of your wrist will also have sustained subtle damage which may not return to normal.

Usually, if the fracture has been fixed back in place, exercises out of the splint will be commenced in the first few days. You will see the hand therapists and have a custom made splint made.

With distal radial fractures, it is usually worthwhile taking 1 gram of fish oil and 1 gram of vitamin C each day for six months as this has been shown to improve outcomes after distal radial fractures.

Distal Radial Fracture Xray
Distal Radial Fixation Xray

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