What Is a Wrist Fracture?
A fracture is a broken bone. Wrist fractures usually involve one of two bones: the radius or the scaphoid. The radius is the larger of the two bones of the forearm (the other is the ulna). The scaphoid is a small bone near the base of the thumb. Wrist fractures vary in severity and may involve the joint surfaces.
Causes
Most commonly, wrist fractures occur from a fall on an outstretched hand. The nature of the fracture is related to the way a person falls on the hand, as well as how hard the person lands. Wrist fractures can also occur as a result of a direct trauma to the wrist.
Symptoms
Pain, swelling and sometimes deformity of the wrist are the most common symptoms. If there is nerve damage, the fingers may be numb and fine-motor manipulation may be difficult. With a scaphoid fracture, the wrist near the thumb is swollen and painful, especially when rotating the wrist.
Diagnosis
X-rays, which show dense tissue like bone, can generally detect fractures of the wrist. A scaphoid fracture, on the other hand, is usually diagnosed based on the physical examination, as well as with other methods of imaging.
An X-ray may not show a scaphoid fracture until one to two weeks after the injury has occurred. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is more effective for initially diagnosing scaphoid fractures.
Treatment
Symptoms can be controlled by anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers, but a broken wrist needs help healing. The doctor may need to line up the two fractured ends of the radius or scaphoid. Then the wrist is immobilized, usually with a cast or splint, for healing to begin. Sometimes the surgeon inserts pins, plates or screws to keep the bone together while it heals.
A cast is worn for three to six weeks in the case of a radius fracture, and up to 12 weeks for a scaphoid fracture. The scaphoid bone may be fully healed in three to four months, while a radius fracture may take 6 to 12 months to heal completely.
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