Fractured Wrist Injuries
A broken wrist is the most frequently type of fracture treated in hospital emergency rooms in people under the age of 65. A wrist fracture usually implies a broken radius, which is one of the two forearm bones. This is known as a Colles fracture.
A broken wrist is usually the result of a fall, such as when someone trips and is forced to land on an outstretched hand. Other forms of trauma, such as car accidents, bicycle accidents, skiing and other sports related accidents, can contribute to a broken wrist.
Symptoms of Fractured Wrist
The most common symptoms of a wrist fracture include:
- Wrist pain
- Swelling
- Deformity of the wrist
When an individual suspects the possibility of a broken wrist, emergency room personnel will take an x-ray of the injured area, and carefully review the x-rays to determine if the fracture is in proper position, and to assess the stability of the bone fragments.
Wrist Fracture Treatment
In most cases, a broken wrist is usually treated with a cast. If the bones are out of proper position, then some light sedation or local anesthesia may be used so your doctor can reset the fracture. This is called 'reducing' a wrist fracture, and by performing specific maneuvers, your doctor may be able to realign the broken wrist.
Many patients heal from a Colles fracture without any complications, but some people may not regain full mobility of their wrist joints. Chronic pain may result from ligament injury. Other possible complications include post-traumatic arthritis and median nerve damage/compression leading to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Adult Wrist Fracture Risk
Colles fractures are very common injury among adults. Particularly at risk are middle-aged to elderly women who suffer from the bone weakening disease, osteoporosis.
When an individual has osteoporosis, even a minor fall can cause a broken wrist.
In addition, distal radius fractures in people older than 60 years of age can be caused by a fall from a standing position.
Children and Wrist Fractures
If a child falls onto an outstretched arm while playing or encounters a dangerous condition that causes slippage, he or she might break one or both of the bones in the forearm. Fractures of the forearm can occur near the wrist at the farthest (distal) end of the bone, in the middle of the forearm, or near the elbow at the top (proximal) end of the bone.
A child's bones are also subject to a unique injury called a growth plate fracture. Growth plates are made of cartilage near the ends of children's bones. They help determine the length and shape of the mature bone.
Fractures in a child's bones begin to heal much more quickly than an adult's bones. If you suspect your child has wrist a fracture, you should obtain prompt medical attention for the child so that the bones can be set for proper healing.
Wrist Fracture Attorneys
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident and endured a painful wrist fracture, you may be entitled to compensation for your injury. Contact a Las Vegas wrist fracture attorney to seek legal advice regarding the compensation to which you and your family are entitled for your pain and loss.
