Radius fractures can be treated with either rest or cast immobilization. Rest means that you avoid putting pressure on the bone by not lifting weights or using the arm regularly. This allows the bone to heal without stress on it.
How do you reduce a distal radius fracture?
The reduction (closed reduction) is usually performed with local anesthesia. Your orthopaedic surgeon will evaluate the fracture and decide whether you will need surgery or if the fracture can be treated with a cast for six weeks. Surgery for Distal Radius Fractures
How do you treat a radial head fracture?
Once your radial head fracture has healed, you may still be feeling pain and be experiencing swelling around your elbow. Your PT may use specific modalities, like heat, ice, or electrical stimulation, to help control your pain and improve your elbow swelling.
What is the immediate care for a potential fracture?
Immediate care for a potential fracture includes immobilization, elevation, and icing. Once imaging tests have been done and physicians can see the nature of the fracture, they can determine how much reduction (the resetting or realigning of bones) is needed and how best to maintain the reduction while the fracture heals.
How long does it take for a distal radius fracture to heal?
If the distal radius fracture is in a good position, a splint or cast is applied. It often serves as a final treatment until the bone heals. Usually a cast will remain on for up to six weeks.
What happens if a wrist fracture is left untreated?
A scaphoid fracture can lead to wrist osteoarthritis, especially if the fracture is untreated and does not heal correctly. This is called “nonunion.” Severe cases of this kind of osteoarthritis can lead to an incorrect alignment of wrist bones in what is called scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse (SNAC).
Can a radius fracture heal on its own?
A broken wrist will heal on its own; however, it may not heal in a functional position. Therefore, the goal of any treatment for a distal radius fracture, whether it involves surgery or a conservative approach, is to realign the bone into its proper position to relieve pain and restore function.
How long can you wait to treat a broken wrist?
Recovery timeline for a broken wrist You might need as long as 6 months to heal from a severe break.
How do you treat a hairline fracture of the radius?
Often, hairline fractures of the arm and forearm are splinted or put into a cast in order to minimize the possibility is jostling the healing bone, since the forearm is going to be used by the patient and total immobility is hard to guarantee.
What does a fractured radius feel like?
The most obvious distal radius fracture symptoms are immediate pain and tenderness at the wrist. You may also see significant swelling and bruising. In some cases, the wrist may be deformed or bent/twisted in an odd position.
Does a radial fracture need a cast?
If the distal radius fracture is in a good position, a splint or cast is applied. It often serves as a final treatment until the bone heals. Usually a cast will remain on for up to six weeks. Then you will be given a removable wrist splint to wear for comfort and support.
Will broken wrist heal on its own?
A fractured bone starts to heal on its own right away. But a treatment called reduction may help you heal better. Reduction is a process that repositions your bones.
Do you need a cast for a hairline fracture in the wrist?
The quick answer is hairline fractures usually heal by themselves but usually require immobilization.
How long does a fractured wrist take to heal without surgery?
In most cases it takes around 6 to 8 weeks to recover from a broken arm or wrist. It can take longer if your arm or wrist was severely damaged. You will need to wear your plaster cast until the broken bone heals. The skin under the cast may be itchy for a few days but this should pass.
How serious is a distal radius fracture?
In severe cases, the fractured bone is so much out of place that it can't be corrected or realigned without making a surgical incision. An open wrist fracture will require surgical treatment as soon as possible. Surgical treatment methods can possibly affect the future use of the forearm or wrist.
How long does a broken radius hurt?
You will still feel some pain with vigorous activities for about that long. Some residual stiffness or ache is to be expected for two years or possibly permanently, especially for high energy injuries (such as motorcycle crashes, etc.), in patients over 50, or in patients who have some osteoarthritis.
Is a hairline fracture worse than a break?
There's no difference between a fracture and a break. A fracture is any loss of continuity of the bone. Anytime the bone loses integrity—whether it's a hairline crack barely recognizable on an X-ray or the shattering of bone into a dozen pieces—it's considered a fracture.