DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURE
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.
Distal Radius Fracture
The radius is one of two bones in the forearm along with the ulna. It is the bone that connects closely to your thumb. Also, a break in the radius bone closest to your wrist refers to a distal radius fracture or broken wrist. This fracture appears as the most frequent type of arm fracture. Furthermore, this fracture represents about 16% of all fractures that orthopedic surgeons treat. Children and people over 50 are the groups most likely to experience them. Continue reading to find out more about this ailment, its most typical causes, and the methods medical professionals use to identify and treat it.
What Causes a Distal Radius Fracture?
According to experts, distal radius or ulnar fractures account for around 25% of fractures in the upper body. In addition, falling on an extended hand appears as the most frequent cause. Usually, the bone fractures an inch from the end. In elderly persons with osteoporosis, a seemingly little fall may break a bone. When falling while participating in sports, young people frequently break their wrists in the following activities.
- biking
- skiing
- soccer
- football
After hip fractures, distal radius fractures are the second most prevalent kind of fracture in adults over 65. People with osteoporosis have a greater risk of getting a distal radius fracture. Additionally, the word “osteoporosis” means “porous bone” in its literal sense. It weakens the body’s bones, making them particularly brittle and prone to breaking. Osteoporosis appears common among older people, and women have a greater risk than men. Falls provide a common cause of distal radius fractures in adults over 60. If the force of contact becomes great enough, even healthy bones around the wrist can shatter. However, many doctors believe that certain vitamins can help maintain better bone health, which can prevent distal radius fractures.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is a distal radius fracture in children, and how does it happen?
A distal radius fracture in children involves a break in the bone near the wrist, specifically the radius, one of the two bones in the forearm. It typically occurs due to a fall onto an outstretched hand or direct impact to the wrist during activities like sports, playing, or simply slipping and falling. Children get this injury because of their active and adventurous nature.
How is a distal radius fracture diagnosed and treated in children?
Diagnosing a distal radius fracture in a child involves a physical examination, possibly supported by X-rays or other imaging tests to determine the extent and type of fracture. Treatment may vary based on the severity of the fracture, but common approaches include casting or splinting the arm to immobilize the wrist and allow the bone to heal. In some cases, the doctor may need to manually realign the bones before applying the cast (a procedure called reduction). Doctors recommend physical therapy and follow-up appointments to aid recovery and monitor the healing progress.
What is the recovery time and long-term prognosis for a child with a distal radius fracture?
Recovery time for a distal radius fracture in children varies based on the severity of the fracture, the age of the child, and how well they follow the prescribed treatment plan. Generally, it takes several weeks for the fracture to heal, during which the child may need to avoid certain activities and wear a cast or splint. After the removal of the cast, doctors will recommend physical therapy to regain strength, mobility, and function of the wrist.
The long-term prognosis is generally excellent for distal radius fractures in children. The bones typically heal well, and most children regain full function of the wrist with proper care and rehabilitation. However, it’s important for parents to follow all post-treatment recommendations and attend follow-up appointments to ensure the best outcome for their child’s recovery.
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.
Types of Distal Radius Fractures
Medical literature has described more than fifteen different classification structures for distal radius fractures over the last seventy years. A research study concluded that none of these classification methods help surgeons determine how to treat their patients.
A fracture occurs often in certain patterns. Some of the more prevalent varieties include the following:
Colles fracture:
The most typical distal radius fracture refers to the Colles fracture. This fracture occurs about 1.5 inches from the wrist joint.
Chauffeur’s fracture:
The radial styloid, the outside portion of the radius closest to the thumb, refers to where Chauffeur’s fracture takes place.
Die-punch fracture:
The lunate fossa, a dip at the end of the radius where it attaches to a bone in the wrist known as the lunate, refers to where a die-punch fracture occurs.
Galeazzi fracture-dislocation:
A break towards the end of the radius combined with a dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint refers to a Galeazzi fracture-dislocation. This often happens when the ulnar end shifts in front of the radius.
Barton’s fracture:
Rim fractures, or fractures that damage the radius’s outer borders, include Barton’s fracture. With this fracture, doctors normally see a dislocated wrist bone.
Greenstick and torus fractures:
These fractures refer to partial fractures and affect kids. Despite bending, the radius remains intact.
Salter-Harris type fracture:
In youngsters, a break in the growth plate refers to a Salter-Harris type fracture. The region of the bone where the bone develops refers to the growth plate.
Symptoms of a Distal Radius Fracture
The most obvious symptom of a distal radius fracture is immediate pain and tenderness in the wrist. Parents may also see large swellings and bruises. In some cases, the wrist can become deformed, bent, or twisted in strange positions. If the injury isn’t too painful and the wrist isn’t flexed or bent, parents can wait until the next day to see a doctor.
How are Distal Radius Fractures Identified by Doctors?
Parents should immediately take their child to the emergency room to begin the diagnostic procedure if they believe their child has a distal radius fracture. Also, an ordinary X-ray is typically sufficient for diagnosing a distal radius fracture. In complicated situations, such as when there are several fractures or several joints affected, the doctor could prescribe a CT scan. If an orthopedic expert believes your child has a ligament injury, they may subsequently request an MRI. Injuries to soft tissues, such as ligaments, occur in 31% of distal radius fractures.
Nonsurgical Treatment
Application of a cast or splint is necessary if the distal radius fracture is in a favorable location. In many cases, it acts as a last resort up until the bone heals. For up to six weeks, a cast is worn. Then, for your child’s comfort and support, a detachable wrist splint will help. To recover appropriate wrist function and strength, children should begin physical therapy as soon as the cast is taken off. If the fracture appears unstable, the doctor will order X-rays at three weeks and again at six weeks. If the fracture was considered stable, x-rays would occur less often.
The first step is to fix a fracture that is not aligned. A local anesthetic is frequently used by the doctor to prevent pain. After it has been properly adjusted and aligned, a plaster cast or splint is put on. If a child can wear a cast to heal a broken bone without surgery, your orthopedic surgeon will make that determination.
Surgery for Distal Radius Fractures
This approach is typically used for fractures that are deemed unstable and the doctor cannot treat the child with just a cast. Surgery is normally carried out through an incision across the volar portion of the wrist (where you feel your pulse). This gives complete access to the break. With the aid of one or more plates and screws, the parts are fitted together and secured. In some circumstances, a second incision on the back of the wrist is necessary to restore the anatomy. The components get secured in place by plates and screws. If there are many bone fragments, fixation with plates and screws may not occur. To stabilize the fracture in these situations, an external fixator with or without extra wires provides the solution.
Most of the hardware on an external fixator is kept outside of the body. For two weeks following the procedure, your child will wear a splint. The doctor will replace the original wrist splint at the next appointment. Then for four weeks, your child will wear it. After a month, our child will begin physical therapy to help rebuild wrist strength and function. Your child can discontinue using the detachable splint six weeks following the procedure. Your child should continue the exercises that your doctor and therapist have recommended. For optimum post-operative recovery, early mobility is essential.
Complications
Most fractures are moderately painful for days to weeks. Therefore, many patients find that the use of ice, elevation (holding the arm above the heart), and over-the-counter pain relievers help reduce pain. If the pain appears severe, your doctor may prescribe stronger pain medicine. Then parents should speak with their surgeon if their child’s pain does not go away after a few days following surgery.
After surgery and casting, patients should regain full finger movement as soon as possible. If the child cannot fully move his or her finger within 24 hours because of pain or swelling, see a doctor. In some cases, the doctor may recommend working with a physical therapist to regain a full range of motion. In addition, complex regional pain syndrome (also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy) may cause excruciating pain, which requires prompt medical intervention such as medication or nerve blocks. If your child experiences significant pain that does not subside after taking medicine, let your doctor know.
What Are Recovery and Rehabilitation?
Depending on the severity of the damage, fractures might cause pain for a few days or weeks. As mentioned previously, typically, over-the-counter painkillers do control pain. Applying cold packs and raising the hand over the heart can both relieve discomfort. Even after treatment, almost all patients still have some wrist stiffness and pain. Also, about a month or two after the cast is removed, this normally goes away. A small amount of residual stiffness may linger for up to two years or perhaps permanently in cases of severe trauma, such as that brought on by a motorbike accident. Furthermore, complete recovery from a distal radius fracture usually takes a year.
When should I seek out an orthopedic surgeon’s assistance? We at Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists are aware that accidents do happen. However, this does not imply that they must prevent you from leading an active and healthy lifestyle. Finally, we are committed to getting children back to their active lifestyle as quickly as possible, whether they fish, sail, hunt, surf, or play sports. We are experts in treating a “Distal radius fracture” with state-of-the-art equipment and knowledgeable surgeons striving for your child’s well-being.
Do you Want Your Child to See the Very Best?
Finally, do you require an orthopedic expert for your child? To discuss your choices, make an appointment with one of our specialists at the Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists, who has received specialized training in fracture and trauma care. We have offices in Arlington, Dallas, Flower Mound, Frisco, and McKinney, TX. For a wide variety of severe injuries, Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists offer thorough diagnosis, treatment, and care. Please, get in touch with us right away for treatment of a Distal Radius Fracture.
__________________
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Distal Radius Fracture
Call 214-556-0590 to make an appointment.
Comprehensive services for children from birth through adolescence at five convenient locations: Arlington, Dallas, Flower Mound Frisco and McKinney.