A broken wrist is an all-too-common injury that is typically caused by a fall with an outstretch hand. Some can be simple in nature and require little intervention, but some can be complex and need immediate surgical intervention to realign the bones and allow for optimal healing.
Wrist Fractures
After sustaining an injury to the wrist, patients will most likely require a workup from a healthcare provider which includes a physical exam of the wrist as well as x-ray imaging to check for broken bones. Depending on the findings, a healthcare provider will plan for the best line of treatment.
A broken wrist must be in optimal realignment to give the bones the best chance of healing. This could be through the application of a simple cast or even complex surgery when needed. Either treatment should result in a well aligned wrist that can be rehabbed back to normal function.
Most wrist fractures that require surgery are address with a small plate and screws. Each plate is designed to match the normal shape of the wrist bone and the screws are placed through the plate to hold all the bony pieces together in an anatomic fashion.
There are a few different approaches to surgery for a wrist fracture. Most require 1-2 small incisions on either the top or underside of the wrist with the goal of placing plates, screws, and/or pins to hold all the bony pieces aligned so that healing can occur.
