Wrists are hinge joints that consist of eight small bones. Those bones connect to the radius and ulna which are the forearm bones. When a person fractures a wrist, one or more of those eight small bones are broken. Even the distal end of the radius might fracture. We depend on our hands and wrists every day to perform both simple and complex tasks, so a fractured wrist isn’t just a minor inconvenience.
Causes
The most common cause of a wrist fracture is when a person falls on a hand that is outstretched. The fall is most often caused by a slip or a trip. Auto accidents are the second leading cause of wrist fractures. Given the meteoric rise of the popularity of electric scooters across the country, expect accidents involving scooters to be the third leading cause of wrist fractures in the near future. Other common causes of wrist fractures include motorcycle and bicycle accidents.
Wrist Fracture Symptoms
Any number of symptoms might indicate that a person has fractured a wrist. Here are some of those symptoms:
- Pain, especially when grasping or squeezing objects.
- Tenderness and swelling.
- Discoloration.
- An obvious deformity like crooked alignment.
- Limited range of motion in the wrist and fingers.
- Tingling or numbness in the fingers.
Two Common Types of Wrist Fractures
According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the most common type of wrist fracture is a distal radius fracture. Coming in at a close second are scaphoid fractures near the base of the thumb just above the radius.
Diagnosing Wrist Fractures
The most common way of diagnosing a wrist fracture is through x-ray imaging. If a fracture doesn’t show on x-rays, a bone scan might be helpful in showing it. There are other instances when a CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging might reveal a fracture along with any damage to tendons and ligaments. Ligaments are tissue that connect bone to bone, while tendons connect muscle to bone. Sufficient wrist trauma can not only cause a wrist fracture, but it can also cause damage to ligaments and tendons.
Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures
Casting a distal radius fracture is an option if the fracture is simple. That decision will be made after imaging tests have been interpreted. If the fracture isn’t stable, or fragments appear, proper alignment might only be possible with surgery. Then, the issue becomes whether fixation of the fracture will be internal or external.
Treatment of Scaphoid Fracture
A wire or pin might be inserted at the site of a scaphoid fracture for purposes of stabilizing and aligning the bone. This can be done through a needle puncture with a moving x-ray (fluoroscopy) that helps the surgeon accurately place a wire or pin. Other choices involve bone grafting, bone removal or fusion.
Contact a Louisville Wrist Fracture Injury Lawyer
You’ll want to speak with us about any wrist fracture that you suffered in or around Louisville, Lexington, Southern Indiana or across the state of Kentucky as a result of the carelessness and negligence of somebody else.
We use our hands just about every waking moment of every day. A serious fracture of just one wrist can operate to dramatically diminish the quality of both our personal and professional lives. If you’ve suffered a fractured wrist as a result of the carelessness and negligence of somebody else, you’re probably entitled to compensation. You can tell us how you suffered your wrist injury, and we’ll answer your questions. After that, you’ll be advised of your full range of legal options and how to best proceed with your case.