DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURES

What happened??  The radius is the larger of the two bones in the forearm (the other is the ulna)  Following trauma or significant force, the end of the radius closest to the wrist, also called the distal radius, is often broken  The most common mechanism of injury is falling on an outstretched arm

X-ray findings  X-ray interpretation helps guide treatment  Things to assess: Location of fracture Does the break cross into joint surface Is the bone still aligned or not

Treatment options  Regardless of how treated, most of these fractures take approximately 6-8 weeks for the bone to heal  If the bone is still well- aligned and appears stable, protection and immobilization in a splint or a cast is a good option  At times, the wrist is numbed in the office and the bone is realigned and casted.

Surgical treatment  Surgical fixation is necessary when the bone is significantly displaced and alignment is off  This is an outpatient procedure that is performed with the use of a nerve block of the affected arm. We are able to give you some sedative medication through an IV to keep you comfortable.  This procedure takes approximately 1 hour to complete.

Post-op  After surgery you will be placed in a soft dressing that has hard cast material protecting the wrist. Take care to keep this clean and dry.  The surgical dressings will be removed at your post-op visit with Dr. Foad 3-5 days after surgery. At that time you will use a removable splint for protection. You may remove this for bathing and to begin gentle range of motion.