Immediate wrist pain
Pain is usually worse with movement or gripping.
Broken wrist specialist care
Broken Wrist & Distal Radius Fracture Symptoms & Treatment
A distal radius fracture can follow a fall, sport injury or road accident. Prompt assessment helps identify displacement, joint involvement, nerve symptoms and whether the wrist can be treated in a cast or needs surgical fixation.
Pain, swelling or deformityWhat patients notice
X-ray and fracture alignmentHow diagnosis is focused
Casting or surgical fixationTreatment pathway
Pain, swelling or deformityX-ray and fracture alignmentCasting or surgical fixation
Patient education guideSymptoms → Diagnosis → Treatment → Recovery
Understanding the injury
The radius forms the main load-bearing side of the wrist.
The distal radius is the end of the forearm bone beside the wrist. Fractures range from stable cracks to displaced, comminuted or joint-surface injuries. The treatment decision is based on alignment, stability, age, bone quality, hand function and patient goals.
Why early assessment mattersAlignment, stability, nerve and circulation findings can change how urgently an injury needs treatment.
Anatomy in context
The radius forms the main load-bearing side of the wrist.
- The fracture may extend into the wrist joint
- Associated ulnar-styloid or ligament injury may be present
- Median-nerve symptoms require timely attention
What patients may notice
Symptoms worth checking early.
Severity varies with displacement, joint involvement and soft-tissue injury. New numbness, circulation change or an open wound needs urgent assessment.
Swelling and bruising
Swelling may develop quickly after the injury.
Visible deformity
The wrist may look bent or shortened when fragments are displaced.
Difficulty using the hand
Lifting, rotating or bearing weight through the wrist becomes painful.
Finger numbness
Numbness or tingling after injury can indicate nerve pressure.
Open wound or pale hand
An open fracture or circulation concern needs emergency assessment.
Seek urgent carefor an open injury, visible deformity, severe swelling, new loss of feeling or movement, uncontrolled bleeding, or pale/cold fingers.Request assessment ↗
How the injury happens
Falls are common—but the fracture pattern matters more than the story alone.
The mechanism helps identify likely fracture, ligament, tendon and soft-tissue patterns, but examination and imaging determine the diagnosis.
Fall onto an outstretched hand
Sports or cycling injury
Road-traffic or high-energy trauma
Low-energy fall with reduced bone density
Focused diagnosis
Define alignment, stability and associated injury.
A useful diagnosis combines the injury pattern, examination and imaging that will change treatment.
Bring to your appointmentEmergency notes, X-rays, scans, operation reports, splints and a list of symptoms that have changed.
History and examination
Check deformity, skin, swelling, circulation, sensation and finger movement.
Wrist X-rays
Show fracture location, displacement, shortening and joint involvement.
CT when useful
May define a complex joint-surface fracture or support surgical planning.
Review after reduction
Repeat imaging checks whether alignment has been restored and maintained.
Treatment choices
Protect healing without losing unnecessary movement.
The right plan depends on the exact injury, alignment, stability, joint surface, skin and patient priorities.
Non-surgical pathway
Stabilise, monitor and begin safe movement.
- ImmobilisationA stable fracture may be protected in a splint or cast.
- Closed reductionDisplaced fragments may be realigned without an incision before casting.
- Swelling controlElevation and finger movement help limit stiffness and swelling.
- Follow-up imagingEarly X-rays may be used to confirm that alignment remains acceptable.
- Hand therapyMovement and strength are progressed after the fracture is stable.
Surgical pathway
Restore alignment or repair damaged structures.
- Open reduction and internal fixationA plate and screws can restore alignment in selected unstable or joint-surface fractures.
- Pins or external fixationThese may be used in selected fracture patterns or soft-tissue situations.
- Treat associated injuryNerve compression, open wounds or ligament injury may need attention.
- Bone-health reviewA low-energy fracture can be an opportunity to assess osteoporosis risk.
Surgery when appropriate
Distal radius fracture fixation
Surgery may be discussed when the fracture cannot be aligned or kept aligned in a cast, when the joint surface is significantly displaced, or when associated injuries change the treatment plan.
- Review X-rays and any CT imaging
- Restore length, tilt and joint alignment
- Stabilise the fracture with the chosen fixation
- Begin finger movement and protect the wrist
- Progress wrist motion and strength when safe
Realistic expectationsHealing and recovery vary with injury severity, tissue damage, fixation, age, health, smoking and rehabilitation. Final medical decisions require individual assessment.
Specialist pathwayAssess → Align → Stabilise → Rehabilitate
Recovery pathway
Healing is staged—not rushed.
These are broad guides only. Imaging, fracture stability, tissue repair and work or sport demands determine the individual timeline.
First days
Elevation, finger movement, splint or cast care and pain control.
1–2 weeks
Wound or cast review; alignment may be checked with X-ray.
4–8 weeks
Fracture healing is reviewed and wrist movement may progress.
3–6+ months
Strength, rotation and confidence improve gradually; stiffness may persist longer.
4.96/555 verified reviewsWhy consult Dr Arshad
A clear injury diagnosis. Practical options. A plan built around function.
Dr Shoaib Arshad is a fellowship-trained consultant orthopaedic hand and wrist surgeon with UK specialist training and more than 17 years in orthopaedic surgery.
Focused hand, wrist and upper-limb trauma assessmentNon-surgical, fixation and reconstruction pathwaysPrivate consultations at The Highfield Hospital, Rochdale, for patients across Greater Manchester and the North West
Meet Dr Arshad ↗Questions patients ask
Broken Wrist / Distal Radius Fracture FAQs.
General information only. Acute injuries and treatment decisions require individual medical assessment.
Is every broken wrist treated with surgery?+
No. Stable or acceptably aligned fractures can often be treated in a cast. Surgery is considered when alignment, stability, joint involvement or patient needs make fixation more suitable.
When is numbness urgent?+
New numbness, increasing pain, severe swelling, pale or cold fingers, or an overly tight cast should be assessed urgently.
Will the wrist be completely normal?+
Many patients recover useful function, but swelling, stiffness or reduced motion may persist, especially after complex joint injuries.
How soon can I drive or work?+
This depends on the side injured, fracture stability, treatment, pain, grip and the demands of your work. Your surgeon should give individual advice.
Where does Dr Arshad see patients?+
Dr Arshad sees private patients at The Highfield Hospital, Manchester Road, Rochdale OL11 4LZ — within easy reach of Manchester, Oldham, Bury, Bolton and the wider North West. You can book online through Circle Health Group, call +44 7443 213645, or send an enquiry and the team will help.
Medical referencesPatient information sources used for this guide
The Highfield Hospital · Rochdale, Greater Manchester
Need a clear fracture or injury assessment?
Request a specialist consultation and bring emergency records, X-rays, scans, reports and current splint or cast information.