Understanding your fracture: Colles Fracture

Colles fracture is a type of broken wrist. It means that your radius bone is broken or cracked. The radius is the bone of your forearm on the same side as your thumb. The forearm is the part of your arm that is between your elbow and your wrist. Your forearm is made up of two bones. The other bone is called the ulna. Often, when the radius is broken, the ulna may also be broken.

A cast or splint is used to protect and prevent your injured bone from moving as it heals.

What are the causes?

Common causes of this type of fracture include:

A hard, direct hit to the wrist.

Falling on an outstretched hand. Trauma, such as a car accident or a fall.

What increases the risk?

You may be at higher risk for this type of fracture if:

You participate in contact sports and high-risk sports, such as skiing, biking, and ice skating.

You smoke.

You drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day.

You have low or lowered bone density (osteoporosis or osteopenia ).

You are a young child or an older adult.

You are a woman who has gone through menopause.

You have a history of previous fractures.

You are not getting enough calcium or vitamin D.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of Colles fracture may include tenderness, bruising, and inflammation. Additionally, your wrist may hang in an odd position, appear deformed, and be difficult to move.

How is this diagnosed?

Diagnosis may include: Physical exam. X-ray.

How is this treated?

Treatment depends on many factors, including the severity of the fracture, your age, and your activity level. Treatment for Colles fracture can be nonsurgical or surgical.

Nonsurgical Treatment:

A cast or a splint may be applied to your wrist if the bone is in a good position. If the fracture is not in a good position, it may be necessary for your health care provider to realign it before applying a cast or a splint. Usually, a cast or a splint will be worn for several weeks.

Surgical Treatment:

Sometimes, if the fractured bone is severely displaced, surgery is required to help hold it together as it Colles Fracture- ClinicalKey heals. Depending on the fracture, there are a number of options for holding the bone in place while it heals, such as a cast and metal pins.

Follow these instructions at home:

If you have a cast:

Do not stick anything inside the cast to scratch your skin. Doing that increases your risk of infection.

Check the skin around the cast every day. Report any concerns to your health care provider. You may put lotion on dry skin around the edges of the cast. Do not apply lotion to the skin underneath the cast.

If you have a splint:

Wear it as directed by your health care provider. Remove it only as directed by your health care provider.

Loosen the splint if your fingers become numb and tingle, or if they turn cold and blue.

Bathing

Cover the cast or splint with a watertight plastic bag to protect it from water while you bathe or shower. Do not let the cast or splint get wet.

Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling

If directed, apply ice to the injured area:

Put ice in a plastic bag.

Place a towel between your skin and the bag. Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.

Move your fingers often to avoid stiffness and to lessen swelling.

Raise the injured area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down.

Driving

Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking pain medicine.

Do not drive while wearing a cast or splint on a hand that you use for driving. Activity

Return to your normal activities as directed by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.

Perform range-of-motion exercises only as directed by your health care provider.

Safety

Do not use your injured limb to support your body weight until your health care provider says that you can.

General instructions:

• Do not put pressure on any part of the cast or splint until it is fully hardened. This may take several hours.

• Keep the cast or splint clean and dry.

• Do not use any tobacco products, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or electronic cigarettes. Tobacco can delay bone healing. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.

• Take medicines only as directed by your health care provider.

• Keep all follow-up visits as directed by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your cast or splint becomes wet or damaged or suddenly feels too tight.

• You have a fever.

• You have chills.

• You have continued severe pain or more swelling than you did before the cast or splint was put on your wrist.

Get help right away if:

• Your hand or fingernails on the injured arm turn blue or gray, or they feel cold or numb.

• You have decreased feeling in the fingers of your injured arm.