Distal Radius Fracture Info
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Distal radius fractures — assessment, casting, and indications for surgical fixation.
What you're feeling
You likely have pain in your wrist after breaking the bone at the end of your forearm. This area is called the distal radius. The pain often feels sharp when you try to move your hand or fingers. It may also ache deeply inside the wrist.
Moving your wrist usually makes the pain worse. Simple tasks like reaching behind your back to fasten a bra can be very difficult. Tucking in a shirt might hurt if you have to twist your arm. Lifting even light objects can cause a sharp twinge.
Many people find the pain flares up at night. You might wake up because the wrist feels stiff or throbs. Sleeping on the side of the injury is often impossible. The pain can also feel worse when you first wake up in the morning. Your surgeon will help you manage these symptoms as you heal.
What's actually happening
A distal radius fracture means the large bone in your wrist has broken near your hand. This bone is the main support for your wrist joint. When it breaks, the smooth surface that lets your hand move freely becomes uneven. This break disrupts the joint, making normal movement painful and difficult.
Your surgeon may use a metal plate to hold the broken pieces together while they heal. Some trials have compared stainless steel plates to titanium plates for this purpose. These metal plates act like a strong internal splint, keeping the bone in the right position so it can mend correctly.
The results from these trials will help your surgeon understand which plate material works best for fixing these breaks. This research adds to what we know about how to manage wrist fractures with surgery. Your recovery depends on the bone healing in a stable way so you can use your hand again.
What we can do about it
You can start by managing the pain yourself and working with a physiotherapist. Your physiotherapist will guide you through gentle movements to keep your wrist flexible and reduce stiffness. This approach aims to help you regain strength and function without invasive procedures. You should give this conservative care a fair chance before considering other options.
If simple measures are not enough, your surgeon may discuss medical treatments to help with pain and inflammation. Options can include pain medication or anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling. In some cases, injections such as cortisone, hyaluronic acid, or PRP (platelet-rich plasma) might be offered. These injections are designed to calm inflammation and provide relief, though the length of time the effect lasts varies for each person.
Surgery is considered when self-management and medical treatments have reached their limit and your wrist is not healing well. Your surgeon may recommend an operation to fix the broken bone using a metal plate. This procedure helps hold the bone in the correct position so it can heal properly. The specific type of plate used, such as stainless steel or titanium, is chosen based on what is best for your injury.
When to see someone
See your GP if you have persistent pain that does not improve with rest. Ask for a specialist review if you feel weakness or instability in your wrist. Contact your surgeon if your hand locks or gives way. You should also seek help if symptoms interfere with your sleep or work. Get urgent care if you notice a sudden worsening of your condition.
