386-788-HAND

(386-788-4263)

Wrist (Distal Radius) Fractures

Wrist (Distal Radius) Fractures

A splint or cast may be used to treat a fracture that is not displaced, or to protect a fracture that has been set.   Other fractures may need surgery to properly set the bone and/or to stabilize it. Fractures may be stabilized with pins, screws, plates, rods, or external fixation . Plates and screws that can be placed through an incision on the bottom or top of the wrist are often used to hold the bone fragments in place and may allow early use of the hand and wrist. These implants are buried inside the wrist and usually do not require removal. External fixation is a method in which a frame outside the body is attached to pins which have been placed in the bone above and below the fracture site, in effect keeping it in traction until the bone heals.  Sometimes arthroscopy is used in the evaluation and treatment of wrist fractures.

On occasion, bone may be missing or may be so severely crushed that there is a gap in the bone once it has been re-aligned. In such cases, a bone graft may be necessary. In this procedure, bone is taken from another part of the body, or bone bank or bone graft substitutes are used, to help fill the defect.  Most times these procedures are able to be performed in the outpatient setting.

While the wrist fracture is healing, it is very important to keep the fingers and shoulder flexible, provided that there are no other injuries that would require that they be immobilized. Once the wrist has enough stability, motion exercises may be started for the wrist itself. Your hand surgeon will determine the appropriate timing for these exercises. Hand therapy is often used to help recover flexibility, strength, and function.


Orange City Office

2777 Enterprise Rd. Building 2,
Orange City, FL 32763

Tel : (386) 218-4920

Fridays 8.00 am to 3.00 pm

Disclaimer/Terms of Use

Port Orange Office

3635 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Ste 900
Port Orange, FL 32129
(situated in the Surgery Center of Volusia Building)

Tel : (386) 788-4263
Fax: (386) 788-0679
Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 5.00 pm

Society Memberships

  • American Society for Surgery of the Hand

Palm Coast Office

315 Palm Coast Parkway NE, Suite 4,
Palm Coast, FL 32137
(situated in the Florida Health Care Plans building)

Tel : (386) 246-3063
Mondays 8.00 am - 3.15 pm

Society Memberships

  • Florida Orthopaedic Society
  • Volusia County Medical Society
  • University of Florida Hand Fellows' Alumni Association

Edgewater Office

239 N. Ridgewood Ave, Suite 1
Edgewater, FL 32132
(situated in the Florida Health Care Plans building)

Tel : (386) 410-4972
Wednesdays 8.00 am - 3.00 pm

All patient education PDFs are copyrighted by the ASSH