Broken Wrist: Symptoms, Treatment and Recovery

01Basics

What a wrist fracture means

Mayo Clinic explains that a broken wrist occurs when one or more bones of the wrist break or crack, which is also called a fracture. The wrist is made up of eight small carpal bones plus the ends of the two long forearm bones, the radius and the ulna.

Mayo Clinic stresses that a broken wrist should be treated right away. If it is not treated, the bones may not heal correctly, making everyday tasks hard, and early treatment also helps reduce pain and stiffness.

02Bones

Distal radius, scaphoid and other bones

“Broken wrist” covers several different fractures. Mayo Clinic describes two common ones:

• Distal radius fracture: a break or crack in the radius at the wrist, one of the most common wrist fractures, usually after falling on an outstretched hand. A Colles fracture is one type of distal radius fracture.
• Scaphoid fracture: a break in the scaphoid, the most commonly injured carpal bone, near the base of the thumb.

Because the bones, the position of the break and whether it reaches the joint all differ, treatment and recovery are not the same for every broken wrist. Pain in this area also has other causes; see our guides on a sprained wrist and wrist pain.

03Causes

How wrists break

Mayo Clinic says a strong impact or crushing injury can break any of the wrist bones. Common causes are falls onto an outstretched hand, sports injuries and motor vehicle crashes, which can break bones into several pieces.

The risk is higher in sports with falls or contact, such as football or soccer, rugby, hockey, pickleball, skiing, snowboarding, in-line skating, trampolining and horseback riding. Osteoporosis, which weakens bones, also makes fractures more likely.

05Diagnosis

Examination and imaging

Mayo Clinic says diagnosis usually involves a physical examination of the injured area and x-rays. Other imaging can add detail:

• a CT scan can detect wrist fractures that x-rays may miss and helps show soft tissue and blood vessel injuries
• an MRI is much more sensitive than x-rays and can detect tiny fractures and ligament injuries

Your clinician may ask about your job, whether you are right- or left-handed, how the wrist was bent when you fell, and any previous hand or wrist injuries.

06Treatment

Reduction and immobilization

If the broken ends are not aligned, Mayo Clinic explains that a procedure called a reduction repositions the pieces so they have the best chance of healing well. It may be done under local anesthesia or, often, during surgery under general anesthesia.

Limiting movement of the wrist, called immobilization, is done with a cast or splint. Mayo Clinic says this may be needed for up to six months in some cases; the actual length varies with the fracture and is set by your team. Keeping the hand raised above heart level as much as possible helps reduce pain and swelling, and moving your fingers regularly prevents stiffness.

07Surgery

When surgery is considered

Mayo Clinic says surgery to implant pins, plates, rods or screws, or a bone graft, may be needed when immobilization is not an option, for example with:

• an open fracture, where bone breaks through the skin or there is a wound near the fracture
• an unstable or displaced fracture, where pieces move before they heal
• loose fragments that could enter a joint
• damage to surrounding ligaments, nerves or blood vessels
• fractures that extend into a joint

Even after a reduction and a cast, bones can shift, so progress is usually monitored with x-rays and surgery may be needed later. Sometimes an external fixation frame with pins through the skin holds the fracture in place. Not every broken wrist needs surgery.

08Medicines

Pain relief, cast care and rehabilitation

For pain, Mayo Clinic says an over-the-counter pain reliever may be recommended, with a stronger prescription painkiller for more serious pain. Anti-inflammatory painkillers can help but may slow bone healing, especially with long-term use, so talk to your clinician before taking them. Antibiotics are usually given for open fractures. Smoking can delay or prevent bone healing.

After the cast or splint is removed, rehabilitation exercises or physical therapy usually follow to improve flexibility and restore movement. Mayo Clinic notes that full recovery may take several months or longer. Write down the restrictions you are given, the movements and loads you are allowed, and the date of your next review, and progress only as your team advises.

09Sources

Where the sources differ

Both sources are Mayo Clinic pages and agree with each other. Some limits are worth knowing.

Cast time. Mayo Clinic mentions a cast or splint for up to six months, but this is an upper limit, not a typical duration. It does not give a standard time; follow your own team’s plan.

Return to activities. The sources do not give dates for returning to work, lifting or sport. Mayo Clinic suggests asking about restrictions, the length of immobilization and the need for physical therapy. Complications listed include lasting stiffness, later arthritis when the fracture reached the joint, and nerve or blood vessel damage.

10Summary

In summary

A broken wrist is a crack or break in one or more wrist bones, most often the distal radius or the scaphoid, usually after a fall onto an outstretched hand. Serious pain, swelling, bruising and deformity are typical; numbness or color changes need emergency care. Diagnosis uses an examination and x-rays, with CT or MRI when needed.

Treatment may include realigning the bones, a cast or splint and, in some fractures, surgery, followed by rehabilitation over several months. Ask your team about restrictions and when to load the wrist. Once your doctor has authorized it, our physiotherapy practice in Bilbao can help adults regain wrist and hand movement (consultations are in Spanish).