Broken wrists are common among athletes, children or people with low bone density. When a person falls, his natural instinct is to attempt to brace himself with an outstretched arm; the force of the resulting impact may then result in a fracture or break of the radius, ulna or carpals. Proper care of a broken wrist will result in better healing.
Symptoms
If you suspect that your wrist is broken, you should seek immediate medical attention; if the fracture is not set by a trained professional, the bone could heal improperly, leading to further complications. However, unless the injury is a compound fracture, you may find it difficult to tell whether you have broken the wrist or merely sprained it. Symptoms of a broken wrist include sensations of intense pain when you try to move your thumb or flex your wrist, swelling or deformation around the injured area and pain that persists for more than a day after the injury occurred.
First Aid
In cases of a compound wrist fracture, your primary concern is to staunch the bleeding while you wait for aid to arrive. Place a sterile bandage or a piece of clean cloth over the wound and apply pressure. Do not attempt to set the bone or fit the fractured end back under the skin. Whether the fracture is simple or compound, keep the wrist and hand immobilized; you can accomplish this by holding something soft, such as a rolled-up sock, in your hand while bandaging a rigid object under the wrist to create a splint. If you have access to ice, you can use it to help reduce the swelling. However, direct contact with ice can damage the skin, so wrap the ice in a clean washcloth prior to use.
Treatment
The treatment process for a broken wrist involves using a plaster cast to keep the fractured area immobilized for several weeks, to allow the bone to heal properly. In some cases, such as when the cartilage in the wrist has been damaged, the doctor will perform surgery to correct any complications that may otherwise hinder the healing process. Once the fracture has healed, the surrounding skin and muscles may require additional treatment to counteract the effects of remaining encased in a cast for an extended period of time. Use of therapeutic putty and exercise products designed to strengthen the muscles in the hand and fingers will assist in the rehabilitation process.
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