How to tell if your wrist is broken and common questions

A broken or fractured wrist, medically referred to as a distal radius fracture, occurs when there is a crack or break in one or more bones in your wrist. This typically happens when you fall onto an outstretched hand or there is direct trauma to one of the two long bones in your forearm - the radius - which is the most commonly broken bone in the arm.

When you fall unexpectedly, a common instinct is to put your hands forward to help curb the force and reduce the impact of the fall on your face, legs or other body parts. However, this can lead to injury in your arms or wrist. 

Broken wrists may also be caused by car or sport accidents and can be excruciatingly painful. Here are some types of wrist fractures:

• Distal radius fracture
• Scaphoid fractures
• Radial styloid fracture
• Ulnar styloid fracture
• Barton’s fracture

As with any other injury, symptoms of a broken wrist may differ from one individual to the next and may vary depending on the severity of the break or crack. When there is a serious wrist fracture, you may experience tingling or numbness in your fingers. This typically signifies that nerves in your wrist may be affected and you should seek medical attention immediately to prevent nerve damage. 

Here are other signs of a broken wrist:

• Wrist pain
• Your wrist feels hot to the touch or tender following a wrist injury
• Your wrist is obviously deformed - appears bent or hangs in an usual manner
• Bruises appear around the wrist
• Swelling in the wrist

Broken wrists and sprained wrists have overlapping symptoms, which makes it easy to confuse one injury for the other. In some cases, it’s possible to experience more severe pain from a sprained wrist than a broken wrist, in addition to swelling, bruising or tenderness.

If you’ve recently had a fall or injury and are concerned about broken wrist symptoms, you should consult a doctor, as getting an x-ray or MRI is typically the only way to ascertain the extent of your wrist injury. 

If your wrist is broken, it will most likely be painful when you attempt to move it. With that said, it may still be broken even if you are able to move it. You should look out for other symptoms of a broken wrist, and consult a medical professional if your normal range of motion becomes limited, as that indicates your wrist has been injured.

There are several methods carried out by medical professionals to treat a broken wrist, which depend on how severe your break is, your age, and activity level. The aim of wrist fracture treatment is to reduce any pain you may be feeling, heal the bones over time and help you regain strength and mobility in your wrist. 

Here are some ways a broken wrist can be repaired:

1. Your doctor may administer over-the-counter pain medication if you suffer from mild wrist pain, or prescribe stronger pain relievers to fight more intense pain.
2. If you have an open fracture, you may be prescribed antibiotics to help prevent infection.
3. A cast or splint may be fitted for you to wear for a few days to help immobilise the broken wrist to restrict movement, so the bones can heal.
4. In some cases, you may need a reduction by a doctor to help shift out-of-place bones back in place. The procedure may be surgical or non-surgical, again depending on the severity of your fracture.

The new Elastoplast Protective Wrist support offers wraparound support, strength and protection to injured joints. It provides warmth, enhancing blood circulation and increasing oxygen supply to further support the healing process of a joint. 

The Elastoplast Performance Wrist Supports have a Dynamic Guard Technology which supports active recovery and provides stability. The supports stimulate the blood flow, thereby enhancing recovery.

Performance Supports are made with Flexible Fabric which moves with your body for ultimate comfort and flexibility and help provide relief to support a broken wrist. It can be helpful to use wrap-around supports while you heal from a wrist fracture, but make sure not to use these if you are suffering from an open-fracture or you’re following a specific medical recovery program for your broken wrist.

If your broken wrist cannot be corrected with a closed (non-surgical) reduction, or cannot be fixed with a cast, you may need surgery. To prevent the wrist fracture from healing improperly (in the wrong position), a surgical procedure may be carried out to correct the fracture and keep it in a fixed position as it heals.

Surgeons may use metal pins to hold the bone in place when the patient is a child with growing bones. The most common procedure is inserting plates and screws over the fracture after creating an incision in the wrist. An external fixator could also be used to stabilise the bones to allow them to heal; these techniques can also be used in tandem.

A broken wrist might also require surgery if:

• You have an open fracture, which can mean your bone pierces through the skin
• Your wrist has breaks or cracks in several places
• There are small pieces of your bone out of place, which could cause damage to your joints
• Your break is in the wrist joint
• Ligaments, nerves or blood vessels in or surrounding your wrist were damaged

Like most injuries, the recovery time for a broken wrist can be impacted by several factors – age, general wellbeing, pre existing conditions or the severity of your break. Recovery can also look different for everyone as treatment options for broken wrists vary. 

Typically, you should expect to wear a splint for no-less than a week and a cast for up to eight weeks. You may be able to resume light activities up to two months after the removal of your cast or post-surgery. More severe broken wrists may take up to six months to fully heal.

The amount of time you can take off work depends on various factors, including how long it takes your broken wrist to heal, the nature of your work, and age range. As a general rule, you should try to avoid lifting or pushing heavy objects during the first 12 weeks of breaking your wrist.

If you’ve been given a cast or other external structure to boost recovery, and your work doesn’t require strenuous movement, it may be possible for you to return to work sooner. Remember to consult your doctor to discuss any concerns you may have about working with a broken wrist.

Broken wrists typically need up to eight weeks of cast protection to allow the bones to rejoin, and soft tissues in or around the wrist to heal properly. Following removal of the plaster or structure holding it in place, your doctor may recommend that you slowly start to exercise the wrist and fingers on the affected hand regularly to help alleviate any pain, discomfort or stiffness you experience.

It’s possible to feel pain whilst performing these activities, therefore it is sometimes advised to take painkillers before doing so, as rehabilitating a broken wrist will positively impact your recovery. Here are some exercises you can try as your broken wrist heals:

1. Rest your elbow on a flat surface (make sure it lines up across your face), and wave your palm from side to side while supporting it with your other hand. Do this 15-20 times.
2. Press your palms against each other while resting your forearms on a table in a ‘prayer like’ motion for about 10 seconds.
3. Curl your fingers into a ball to make a fist, then straighten them fully. Perform this up to 10 times.
4. Place your hand on a table and let your wrist hang off the edge, then move your wrist back and forth, stretching it as far as you can without feeling too much pain. Do this up to 15 times.

In some instances it can take up to one year to fully recover and regain the usual function of a broken wrist. While most people are able to return to their usual activities with little to no problems, it is possible in some cases to experience permanent mobility issues with your wrist.

If you experience stiffness in your wrist, it should generally reduce post-cast or post-surgery and should clear up within a year or two. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to help strengthen and rehabilitate the broken wrist.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to diagnose a broken wrist, and if left untreated for a long period of time complications may occur. Remember to seek medical attention if you suspect you might have broken your wrist.

It can be difficult to prevent broken wrists, as they are typically as a result of an accident and therefore cannot be predicted. However, here are some tips to help you avoid breaking your wrist:

• You should try not to break a fall using your wrists, as the blunt force can result in injury
• Take care when exercising or walking in slippery areas
• Exercise regularly to improve overall wellbeing and physical fitness
• Take up wrist stretches if you work with your hands often to help soothe any aches.