According to MayoClinic.com, a broken wrist is defined as the fracture of one or more bones located in the wrist joint. Wrist fractures are commonly caused by falls on an outstretched hand, sports injuries or car accidents. A broken wrist can result in severe pain when gripping or squeezing, swelling, tenderness, bruising, deformity, stiffness and numbness in the wrist. Proper diagnosis and treatment is required to avoid possibly serious complications.
Chronic Pain
MayoClinic.com states that ongoing stiffness, pain or aching in the affected area can occur even after the broken bone has healed. Although pain will significantly improve after treatment, a patient may experience continual aching, especially when gripping or squeezing. In this case, a doctor can recommend home exercises or physical therapy that can improve the flexibility and strength of the wrist joint. Exercises must be performed as recommended to reduce chronic pain in the wrist.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of cartilage and the formation of bone spurs, or humps of bone in a joint, and can occur following wrist injury, states MayoClinic.com. Bone spurs take years to form, but can grow to the point where they rub against each other during wrist movement. This results in pain, swelling and inflammation in the wrist joint. A doctor can diagnose osteoarthritis by taking an X-ray of the joint. Osteoarthritis is treated with over-the-counter (OTC) pain-relieving medications, ice therapy and physical therapy. Surgery in which the surgeon removes the bone spurs that are causing problems may be required in severe cases.
Blood Vessel Damage
The American Academy or Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) states that blood vessel damage can occur in a broken wrist, particularly if the scaphoid bone is damaged. The scaphoid bone is located at the base of the thumb. This occurs because the blood supply to the scaphoid bone is limited and may be disrupted during the fracture. This disrupted supply results in a lack of blood and nutrients going to a fragment of bone, and is termed avascular necrosis. Thus, a scaphoid bone fracture that involves a disruption of blood supply requires surgery to prevent the fragmented piece of bone from dying.
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