They seem to happen out of nowhere. A slip and fall accident. Car or motorcycle crashes. Sport and exercise injuries. Wrist fractures – technically defined as a Colles’ fracture, or a distal radius fracture – can seemingly happen at anytime, and they are very difficult to predict as a result.
It is estimated that 250,000 people in the United States end up fracturing the distal portion of their radius bone each year. In fact, one out every 10 broken bones in the U.S. results in a fractured wrist.
What is a fractured wrist?
A fractured wrist is actually a break in the larger of the two bones in the forearm. The bone on the lower end breaks in the area where it connects to the thumb side of the wrist. The wrist consists of eight small bones connecting to the two long forearm bones: the radius and ulna.
Certain wrist fractures are worse than others. A “non-displaced” break, for example, is when the bones stay in place, whereas “displaced” breaks mean the bones will need to be put back in place, likely via a cast or splint.
Fractures that break apart joint surfaces or shatter into many different pieces are far more severe. Such fractures will usually require surgery to correct their alignment.
You may have a fractured wrist if you are experiencing the following symptoms:
- Pain while flexing your wrist
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Wrist deformity (your wrist appears bent or crooked)
How long will it take to recover?
Recovery time for a fractured wrist will vary from situation to situation. Factors such as whether or not the fracture is displaced or stabilized, your age and health, and the presence of other injuries all come into consideration when trying to estimate how long it will take to recover from a wrist fracture.
Typically, a splint will be used for the first few days until the swelling goes down. About a week later, a cast will then be applied.
A cast might be needed for six to eight weeks, and sometimes even longer depending on the severity of the break. More severe breaks may take as long as six months to fully heal.
Discomfort or pain may continue for months or even years after your injury. Returning to work or regular activity too soon can aggravate your injury and prolong the healing process further. A second cast may be applied should the first one become loose over time as well.
Besides a splint or cast, fractures can also be fixed surgically via screws, pins, plates and other devices that hold the bone in place so that it can properly heal. Therefore, it can take months of x-rays and doctor’s checkups before you can be sure your wrist is back to normal.
As you recover, it is crucial for you to keep your fingers active so that they won’t get stiff. Hand therapy is a great option in terms of maintaining function and strength in your fingers. If pain or swelling gets worse during your recovery – particularly if you experience numbness through lack of blood blow to your fingers – seek medical help immediately.