Prompt evaluation and personalized orthopedic care for displaced, nondisplaced and complex wrist fractures, including casting, reduction, pinning, plate fixation and distal radius fracture surgery.
A splint from urgent care or an emergency department may protect the wrist temporarily, but it does not always complete the treatment process.
Distal radius fractures can begin healing quickly. Prompt orthopedic evaluation allows the surgeon to assess alignment, joint involvement, fracture stability, swelling and nerve function before the bone begins healing in an undesirable position.
Many patients first receive X-rays and a temporary splint at an urgent care center or emergency department. The next important step is often evaluation by the orthopedic surgeon who will determine whether the wrist can heal safely in its current position.
For a stable patient who already has X-rays, a diagnosis and a protective splint, calling our orthopedic office directly may help avoid an unnecessary repeat emergency-room visit. Bring the imaging disc, printed report or electronic imaging access information whenever possible.
Acute fractures are prioritized differently from routine orthopedic complaints. Tell our scheduling team that the wrist is broken or may be broken so we can make every reasonable effort to arrange prompt evaluation.
The orthopedic surgeon still needs to determine whether:
A distal radius fracture is a break in the larger forearm bone near the wrist joint. It is one of the injuries most patients simply call a broken wrist.
Some distal radius fractures are small cracks that remain well aligned. Others are shortened, tilted, displaced, shattered into several pieces or extended directly into the wrist joint.
A wrist fracture is not treated based only on whether the bone is broken. The orthopedic surgeon must decide whether the position is acceptable, whether the fracture is stable and whether it is likely to move during healing.
Follow-up X-rays are often important because a fracture can appear acceptable immediately after reduction and then settle or shift as swelling decreases.
The mechanism often differs according to age, bone quality and the amount of force transmitted through the wrist.
In older adults, a distal radius fracture commonly occurs after a fall from standing height onto an outstretched hand.
Reduced bone density or osteoporosis may allow the wrist to fracture after an impact that might not break stronger bone.
Younger patients generally have stronger bone. A distal radius fracture in a younger patient is therefore more commonly associated with a higher-energy mechanism.
These injuries may be more complex, may involve the joint surface or may occur with additional damage to the wrist, forearm or surrounding soft tissues.
Pain, swelling and difficulty using the hand are common, but X-rays are usually required to understand the fracture pattern and alignment.
Pain is usually concentrated near the wrist and may worsen with movement, gripping or attempted use of the hand.
A significantly displaced wrist may appear bent, shortened or abnormally prominent.
Lifting, dressing, driving, gripping and ordinary daily activities may become difficult.
Swelling or displaced bone may irritate the median nerve and cause numbness, tingling or weakness.
X-rays identify displacement, shortening, angulation, comminution and joint involvement.
A CT scan may help evaluate a complex fracture extending into the wrist joint or assist with surgical planning.
The best option depends on the fracture pattern, the patient’s health and how the patient needs to use the hand during work, recreation and daily life.
We consider fracture alignment, stability, joint involvement, bone quality, swelling and nerve function. We also consider the patient’s dominant hand, occupation, activity level, expectations, pain, overall health and tolerance for prolonged immobilization.
A nondisplaced or acceptably aligned distal radius fracture may be treated in a splint or cast while the bone heals. Repeat X-rays may still be needed because certain fractures can move or settle.
A displaced wrist fracture may sometimes be repositioned without making an incision. The wrist is then stabilized in a splint or cast and monitored closely to ensure that the correction is maintained.
Certain distal radius fracture patterns can be stabilized with several small metal pins or wires placed through the skin. Pinning can provide additional stability, although a splint or cast is often still required.
During distal radius ORIF, the fracture fragments are repositioned and stabilized with a plate and screws. Stable internal fixation may permit earlier controlled wrist motion than prolonged cast treatment.
An external fixator uses pins in the bone above and below the fracture connected to a stabilizing frame outside the skin. It may be useful for selected severe, highly comminuted, swollen or open fractures.
In our experience, orthopedic fracture treatment has shifted toward fixing more distal radius fractures than in the past. This does not mean every wrist fracture requires surgery.
Stable fixation may provide meaningful advantages for selected patients, including more dependable alignment, earlier controlled motion and less time relying on a restrictive cast.
A fracture that does not appear severely displaced may still be unstable, may involve the joint or may be likely to settle into a worse position. An active patient who relies heavily on the hand may also place a high value on beginning motion and functional recovery sooner.
Orthopedic surgery is designed to restore acceptable alignment, stabilize the broken bone and protect wrist function during healing.
The orthopedic surgeon restores the position of the broken fragments and secures them with a plate and screws. The goal is to create a stable structure that allows the bone to heal in an appropriate position.
Finger motion generally begins immediately. Wrist motion is introduced according to the fracture pattern, fixation strength, soft-tissue condition and postoperative plan.
Surgery does not eliminate swelling, soreness or the need for rehabilitation. It may reduce painful movement at the fracture and allow earlier progression away from rigid immobilization.
Recovery varies according to the fracture, treatment method, age, bone quality, swelling and individual functional goals.
Elevation, swelling control, finger movement and wrist protection are early priorities.
Finger movement helps control stiffness and swelling unless another injury prevents it.
Wrist motion progresses according to stability, imaging and the treatment selected.
Grip strength and heavier activity generally return more gradually than basic motion and light use.
The wrist is used constantly. Eating, dressing, typing, driving, opening doors and pushing up from a chair all require the hand and wrist. This is why treatment decisions should reflect the patient’s actual lifestyle, hand dominance and expectations.
Direct orthopedic scheduling may help many stable patients avoid unnecessary repeat emergency visits, but true emergencies require immediate emergency care.
Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists is an orthopedic surgery practice providing urgent evaluation and treatment for distal radius fractures, wrist fractures and other acute orthopedic injuries.
Tell the scheduling team that you have a confirmed or suspected fracture. Bring outside X-rays, CT scans, imaging reports and urgent-care or emergency-room paperwork to the appointment.
Call Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists and tell our team that you have a confirmed or suspected fracture. We make every reasonable effort to arrange rapid orthopedic evaluation and same-day appointments whenever scheduling and the patient’s condition allow.