Distal Radius Fracture - What You Must Know

Distal Radius Fracture - What You Must Know

Fractures are unexpected and you never know when the serious ones occur. The most common cause of fractures is trauma occurring due to automobile accidents, falling, or sports injuries. Above all, one of the most common types of fractures noticed is distal radius fracture.

Radius is a forearm bone located on the thumb’s side and the part where it connects to the wrist is known as the distal radius. So, when a fracture occurs at this location of the wrist, it is known as a distal radius fracture. This type of fracture can be treated by applying a cast or splint in maximum cases, but in severe fractures, surgery using Orthopaedic Trauma Implants may be required.

How Distal Radius Fracture Occurs?

Falling on an outstretched hand or a flexed hand is one of the reasons for distal radius fracture. This condition could also arise due to automobile accidents or sports injuries. The extent of impact during an accident decides the severity of the fracture along with its type.

Distal radius fracture can be an isolated one and it may also involve ulna. When ulna is involved, the fracture is known as the distal radius and ulna fracture.

What Are the Different Types of Distal Radius Fracture?

Distal radius fractures can be classified into two types depending upon the angle of break:

Colles’ Fracture

The first and most common type of distal radius fracture is colles’ fracture. When the fracture occurs with a direct impact on the palm, the chances are high that it could be a colles’ fracture. Due to the appearance of the wrist after the break, this fracture is also known as “dinner-fork deformity” of the wrist.

Colles’ fracture is very painful, and it also results in swelling and tenderness of the affected site. Colles’ fracture can be further classified as:

• Open fracture

• Comminuted fracture

• Intra-articular fracture

• Extra-articular fracture

Smith’s Fracture

Smith’s fracture is less common than colles’ fracture and it generally occurs when the impact occurs at the back of the wrist. Such a condition arises when someone falls on a bent wrist. Palmar angulation of the distal fragment is also noticed in Smith’s fracture. Thus, in this case, the fractured bone fragment displaced towards the palm. It is also known as reverse colles’ fracture. Out of all distal radius fractures, only around 3% are reported to be Smith’s fracture.

What Are the Risk Factors Associated with Distal Radius Fracture?

Osteoporosis-related risk factors could be the reason for distal radius fracture:

• Aging

• Gender (females are more prone to getting fractured)

• Early menopause

• Excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption

• Use of steroids for a long time

What Are the Symptoms Noticed in Case of Distal Radius Fracture?

Immediate pain is the most common symptom seen in distal radius fracture along with the tenderness to touch. Besides this, bruising and swelling around the wrist are also noticed. Abnormal bending of the wrist may also be evident in severe distal radius fractures.

How Distal Radius Fractures Can be Treated?

The treatment of distal radius fractures will depend upon the severity of the condition. Most cases of such fractures can be fixed with non-surgical procedures like the use of a cast or a splint. When it comes to the immediate treatment of the fracture, the doctor prefers the application of a splint to support broken bone and relieve pain. If it is a displaced fracture and can be reduced without surgery, the doctor will do that with anesthesia before applying a splint.

Use of a cast or a splint is the most common way of treating distal radius fracture, but in severe or unstable fractures, where the above-mentioned treatment methods fail to improve the condition, surgery is required. During surgery, the incision is made over the wrist’s volar aspect to get complete access to the fracture. Here, orthopedic implants and instruments like metal plates & screws are used to realign the fractured bone pieces.

Siora Surgicals Pvt. Ltd. is an orthopedic implant manufacturer in India with experience of over 30 years. The company manufactures all types of orthopedic devices and supplies them to clients based in different countries across the globe. Siora is also one of the reliable Trauma Implants Suppliers in Latvia.