Whether it’s through a sporting incident, clumsiness, or other trauma, a broken bone is never an enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, it’s quite common for our hands, wrists, and arms to bear the brunt of injury – our natural inclination is to use our upper limbs to catch ourselves during falls or protect ourselves from injury to our heads. One of the most common injuries people present to GPs and physios with is distal radius fractures.
At Action Rehab, we assist in the treatment of distal radius fractures with customised braces. In this blog, we explain how these fractures occur and the common treatments implemented.
What is a distal radius fracture?
Of the two long bones that support your forearm, the radius is the larger (the ulna is the other). The radius connects the elbow and leads all the way to the thumb. The end nearest to the wrist is the distal area. A fracture that occurs in this area is also known as a Colles’ or Smith’s fracture and the consequences of misaligning this joint can cause pain and loss of function.
Managing distal radius fracture immediately after the injury
If you’ve injured your wrist, it’s important to follow the basic first aid procedures to prevent further damage and to minimise the pain you’re experiencing. Restrict movement of your wrist by resting it in a sling – easily made with a jumper or a towel if an actual sling is unavailable – and elevate it to reduce swelling. If deformity has occurred (your wrist is bent or hangs in an unusual way) then it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. Ask a friend or family member to take you to your GP or directly to the hospital. In an emergency, dial 000.
Assessment and treatment options for distal radius fracture
Your doctor will assess your injury and determine the most appropriate treatment. Oftentimes this will be setting the fractured limb within a cast for a certain period of time; approximately six weeks. Traditional casts are made of a special plaster, but the limitations of this type have led to innovations in the types of casts available to people.
At Action Rehab we fabricate thermoplastic fracture braces specifically for the treatment of distal radius fractures. Unlike old-school plaster casts these can get wet, making your life a bit easier as you allow your bones to heal.
Have you or a loved one injured a wrist? When you need a cast applied, make an appointment with the Action Rehab physio today.
