Wrist Fracture Basics

• Wrist fractures usually affect the larger of the two forearm bones, the radius, but can also affect the smaller bone, the ulna. If you stretched out your arms to catch your body during a forward fall, or were in a more severe accident, you may have ended up with a comminuted fracture.
  
  

Splint and Cast Treatment

• Even in the case of a comminuted fracture, if the pieces are well aligned and haven't broken through the skin, a splint, followed by a cast, may do the trick. Even if realignment is necessary, the doctor may try to do it without having to make an incision.
  
  

Plates, Screws and Pins

• Although every wrist fracture is different, plates and screws (or pins) will only be used if the bone is not broken into too many pieces. A severe fracture will likely require an external fixator (see next section), or a combination of plates and a fixator, to hold it together.
  
  

External Fixator

• X-ray showing an external fixatorImage by Flickr.com, courtesy of Chen Zhao
  
  A comminuted wrist fracture may require a device called an external fixator. This is a device that is fixed by metal pins through the skin and into the bone (it sits on the outside of your arm). It is removed in about 6-8 weeks, after which a splint may be needed.)
  
  

Length of Recovery

• Initial recovery can take months, and full recovery can take a year or more. Sometimes physical therapy is used to assist with the healing process and to reduce pain and stiffness. If all else fails, alternate treatments or additional surgery may be needed.
  
  

Complications

• There may be pain, especially in the first few days, so a prescription pain killer might be needed. If you resume regular activities sooner than your doctor advises, you may slow healing or reinjure the wrist. Arthritis and limited motion are also possible outcomes, but may be avoided with physical therapy.