BROKEN WRIST
A broken wrist is a crack or break in the bones of the wrist. Most commonly, these injuries occur in the wrist when an individual tries to hold himself during a fall and land hard on an extended hand.
If your child needs surgery or casting, our Fracture Care Clinic opens every day and you do not need an appointment. Surgery rooms get scheduled every morning, so your child receives the care and attention they need right away.
Broken Wrist
A broken wrist is a crack or break in the bones of a wrist. Most commonly, these injuries occur in the wrist when an individual tries to hold himself during a fall and lands hard on an extended hand. If you child participates in sports like in-line skating or snowboarding, your child may be at higher risk of breaking a wrist.
It’s crucial to treat a broken wrist ASAP. Or else, the bones might not heal in proper alignment, affecting your child’s ability to do daily activities such as writing or buttoning up a shirt. Quick treatment will also help deal with the pain and stiffness.
Description
A distal radius fracture is more likely to occur about 1 inch from the edge of the bone. It is a common fracture occurring in various forms in people of different age groups. In young individuals, fractures like these usually occur in high-energy accidents such as a fall from a ladder or a vehicle crash. In older men and women, especially those with osteoporosis, these fractures can occur from a simple fall onto the wrist.
A Colles fracture is among the most common distal radius fractures. In this type, the broken fragment of the radius tilts upward. Abraham Colles, an Irish surgeon, and anatomist, first described this fracture in 1814. That is why its name is Colles fracture.
Different Ways The Distal Radius Can Break:
- Intra-articular fracture — This one happens in the wrist joint.
- Extra-articular fracture — It is a fracture that does not expand in the joint.
- Open fracture — It is an open fracture when a fractured bone breaks the skin. These fractures need immediate medical attention because they may lead to infections.
- Comminuted fracture — When a bone breaks into more than two pieces, it is a comminuted fracture.
It is crucial to categorize the type of fracture since, in open fractures, comminuted fractures, intra-articular fractures, and displaced fractures, the broken pieces of bone do not line up. That is why these are more difficult to treat than other fractures.
Sometimes, the other bone, the ulna, also gets broken. It is called a distal ulna fracture. Considering the type of distal ulna fracture, your child may or may not need additional treatment.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
How do children break their wrists?
Children often break their wrists as a result of falls, sports-related injuries, or accidents during play. A common mechanism of injury is extending the arm to break a fall, which can lead to a fracture in the wrist bones.
What are the typical symptoms that a child has with a broken wrist?
A child with a broken wrist may experience symptoms such as severe pain, swelling, bruising, and tenderness around the wrist area. There may be difficulty moving or using the hand and wrist, and in some cases, there might be visible deformity or misalignment of the wrist.
How are broken wrists treated in children and what is the expected recovery time?
Treatment for a broken wrist in a child varies depending on the type and severity of the fracture. It may involve immobilization with a cast or splint, pain management, and elevation of the affected limb. In some cases, if the bones are displaced or unstable, surgery may be necessary to realign and stabilize them. Recovery time can vary but typically ranges from a few weeks to several months, and physical therapy may be recommended to regain strength and mobility in the wrist. It’s crucial for parents to follow the treatment plan and attend follow-up appointments for proper healing.
When children break bones, parents need to take them to the very best doctors. At the Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists, we are the best. We specialize in children and their bones.
Broken Wrist Causes
The common cause of a distal radius fracture is when a person falls onto an extended arm. Especially when your child has osteoporosis, even a comparatively minor fall can cause a broken wrist. In most cases, distal radius fractures in people over 60 happen from a fall from a standing posture.
If the force of the trauma is severe enough, a broken wrist can even happen in healthy bones. For example, in a young and healthy person, a vehicle accident or a fall from a bike may cause enough force to break a wrist. Older patients with good bone health can potentially prevent fractures. People who have a history of osteoporosis should consult an orthopedic doctor regarding options for bone strengthening.
Broken Wrist Symptoms
A broken wrist generally causes immediate pain, bruising, tenderness, and swelling. In many cases, the wrist may be deformed for the fracture such as the wrist hanging in an odd or bent way. In severe fractures, the injury affects the nerve(s) in the hand. This may cause numbness in the fingers. If your child has numbness in his or her fingers after getting their wrist injured, immediately go to an urgent care center or emergency room. You should address the injury ASAP to prevent permanent nerve damage.
Doctor Examination
If the injury is not highly painful and the wrist does not have any deformity, you may wait until the next day to see an expert. You can protect the wrist with a splint. Also, applying an ice pack to the wrist and keeping it elevated until a doctor examines it will be really helpful. If the injury is extremely painful, the wrist deformity is severe, or if your child’s fingers feel numb or pale, go to an urgent care center or emergency room to get the right treatment.
To make an accurate diagnosis, our doctors will recommend X-rays of the wrist. X-rays can help demonstrate if there is a broken wrist or other broken bones as well. Also, an X-ray will provide information if there is a displacement between the broken bones. An X-ray can also show the number of broken bone pieces. In certain cases, our doctor may also recommend a computed tomography (CT) scan. This will provide 3-D pictures of the broken bones. This can further help with planning the right surgery.
Broken Wrist Treatments
The basic rule of treating broken bones is that the broken pieces need to be put back into the right position and should be prevented from moving out of place until bone healing occurs. There are various treatment options available for a distal radius fracture. Our doctors will determine the right treatment depending on various factors. For example, the nature of the fracture, the patient’s age, activity level, etc.
Nonsurgical Treatment
If the broken bone is in a proper position, doctors may apply a cast until the bone heals. If there is a displacement of the broken bone and it restricts the future use of the arm, it may be crucial to re-align the broken fragments of bones. With the word reduction, doctors technically describe the process in which they move the broken pieces back into place. The procedure of straightening a bone without cutting open the skin (incision) is known as a closed reduction.
Surgical Treatment
Sometimes, a closed reduction may not help correctly position the bone. If not placed properly, these fractures may heal in bad alignment resulting in poor function of your child’s arm. In such cases, your child may need surgery to improve the fracture and get it back in place while it heals.
- Cast — Casts are hardly used after an open reduction.
- Metal pins – This treatment was common several years ago. And it is still frequently used in treating broken wrists among children with growing bones.
- Screws and Plates — This is the most common option in terms of surgical treatment for distal radius fractures.
- External fixator – In this procedure, doctors use a stabilizing frame outside the body to hold the bones in an accurate position while they can heal. Even though this has become less common in recent years, it is an effective option to heal severe and open fractures.
- If required, doctors may also use any combination of these techniques.
Open Fractures
For most open fractures surgery is necessary as soon as possible generally within 24 hours or less after injury.
- Doctors carefully clean the exposed soft tissue and bone and then give antibiotics to prevent infection.
- Experts use external or internal fixation methods to hold the bones in place.
- If there is severe damage to the soft tissues in the fractured area, doctors may use a temporary external fixator.
- Doctors often recommend Internal fixation with plates or screws at a second procedure after several days when swelling reduces and the soft tissues around the fracture are back in form.
Since there are various kinds of distal radius fractures, and the treatment options are wide-ranging, recovery will be different for everyone. Our orthopedic doctors will explain your child’s recovery program and how fast your child can return to daily activities.
The board-certified pediatric orthopedic surgeons and fellowship-trained physicians at Medical City Children’s Orthopedic and Spine Specialists treat children, adolescents, and young adults who have fractures of all complexities. Our expertise gives room for the accurate diagnosis of problems that relate to the growing musculoskeletal system. We will develop optimal care plans that will ensure that your child’s specific condition is catered for.
Finally, we offer personalized treatment and urgent pediatric care services at all of our four locations — Arlington, Dallas, Flower Mound, Frisco, and McKinney, TX. If you notice any symptoms of a broken wrist in your child, don’t hesitate to contact us to avoid complications.
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Footnote:
American Society of Surgery of the Hand: Broken Wrist
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