A fractured wrist, often resulting from a fall onto an outstretched hand, involves a break in one or more of the bones that make up the wrist joint. This common injury can range from a small, hairline crack to a bone broken into multiple pieces. Proper medical attention and diligent self-care are fundamental for the body’s natural healing processes to proceed efficiently for full function.
Initial Medical Management
Upon sustaining a wrist injury, seeking prompt medical attention is advisable, especially if there is significant pain or a noticeable deformity. Medical professionals typically diagnose a wrist fracture through a physical examination and X-rays, which visualize bone damage. In some instances, additional imaging tests like a CT scan or MRI may be used to detect fractures X-rays might miss or to assess soft tissue and ligament injuries.
Once a fracture is confirmed, the immediate goal is to realign the broken bone fragments, a procedure known as reduction. If the bones are not significantly out of place, a cast or splint may be applied directly. For displaced fractures, a healthcare provider will manually realign the bones, often under local or general anesthetic.
After reduction, immobilization is achieved using a splint or cast to restrict movement for healing. Splints are sometimes used initially for a few days to a week, followed by a cast for four to six weeks.
In more complex cases, such as open fractures, those with loose bone fragments, or damage to surrounding ligaments, nerves, or blood vessels, surgical intervention may be necessary. Surgical options like open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) involve making an incision to realign the bones and secure them with metal plates, screws, pins, or an external frame to maintain stability. Pain management is also addressed, with doctors typically recommending over-the-counter pain relievers or, for severe pain, stronger prescription medication.
Supporting Your Recovery at Home
Supporting wrist fracture recovery at home involves practices to optimize healing and manage symptoms. Immediately after the injury, applying ice or a cold pack to the wrist for 10 to 20 minutes at a time, every one to two hours while awake for the first three days, helps reduce swelling and pain. Placing a thin cloth between the ice and your cast or splint is advisable. Elevating the injured wrist above heart level, by propping it on pillows when sitting or lying down, further reduces swelling.
Proper care of your cast or splint is also important. It is important to keep the cast or splint dry to prevent skin irritation or infection. If a splint is used, it should not be removed unless instructed by a doctor, and avoid applying it too tightly when reapplying. Avoid inserting objects into the cast to scratch itchy skin, as this can damage the skin or the cast’s padding.
Nutrition plays a significant role in bone healing.
- Protein: A major component of bone structure, needed to build new bone. Found in meat, fish, dairy products, nuts, and beans.
- Calcium: Directly incorporated into bones, adults need 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams daily. Sources include dairy, leafy greens like kale, and fortified foods.
- Vitamin D: Aids calcium absorption; adults need at least 600 IU daily. Found in fatty fish and fortified milk.
- Vitamin C: Supports collagen production for bone. Found in citrus fruits and berries.
- Iron: Contributes to collagen formation and oxygen delivery. Found in red meat, eggs, and leafy greens.
Rehabilitation for Full Function
After the initial immobilization period, typically around six to eight weeks, and once the cast is removed, it is common for the wrist to feel stiff and weaker. This stiffness is a normal part of the healing process and usually resolves within a couple of weeks for uncomplicated fractures. The subsequent phase of recovery focuses on rehabilitation to regain strength, flexibility, and full range of motion.
Physical therapy is often recommended to guide this process, helping to restore normal wrist function and prevent long-term complications like stiffness and weakness. A physical therapist will introduce a progressive routine of exercises. Initially, gentle range of motion exercises, such as wrist circles or flexion and extension movements, are performed to improve mobility. These exercises involve slowly bending the wrist forward and backward, or rotating it, often repeated 10 times in each direction.
As mobility improves, strengthening exercises are introduced to rebuild muscle strength and grip. Squeezing a stress ball or therapy putty for several seconds, repeated multiple times, can help restore grip strength. Exercises involving light weights, such as wrist curls with the palm up or down, also help strengthen the forearm and wrist muscles.
The rehabilitation process also includes functional exercises that mimic daily activities, like tossing a small ball against a wall, to enhance wrist stability and coordination. It is important to perform these exercises consistently, often three to four times daily, gradually increasing intensity as tolerated, and always consulting with a healthcare provider if sharp pain occurs. Full recovery, including the return of grip strength and ability to support weight, can take several months, sometimes up to a year, requiring patience and adherence to the rehabilitation plan.