A broken wrist is one of the most common orthopedic injuries — and it can happen in an instant.
Most people break their wrist trying to catch themselves during a fall, but it can also happen during sports, accidents or anytime you land hard on an outstretched hand. Because our wrists are involved in nearly every daily task, getting the right treatment early is essential for proper healing.
What Is a Broken Wrist?
Your wrist is made up of several small bones that allow your hand to move smoothly and precisely. When one or more of these bones break, you may experience pain, swelling and difficulty using your hand or wrist.
A wrist fracture can range from a simple crack to a break that shifts bones out of alignment or shatters them into multiple pieces. Some fractures even extend into the joint — which requires even more careful treatment to prevent long-term stiffness or arthritis.
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How to Know If You’ve Broken Your Wrist
If you’ve injured your wrist and notice any of the following, you may have a fracture:
- Severe pain, especially when gripping, squeezing, or moving the wrist
- Swelling or tenderness
- Bruising
- Visible deformity, such as a bent or crooked wrist
- Trouble moving your fingers or hand normally
Don’t wait to seek care — delays in diagnosis can lead to poor alignment, stiffness, reduced grip strength, and long-term limitations.
Broken Wrist Treatment
Prompt evaluation and X-rays are crucial to determine the type of fracture and determine the best treatment path. Many broken wrists can be treated without surgery using splints, braces, or casts. These methods help hold the bones in proper alignment while they heal.
Broken Wrist Surgery
Surgery may be recommended if the bones are significantly out of place, the fracture enters the joint, the wrist is unstable, there are multiple bone fragments or the injury happened after high-impact trauma.
Your surgeon may use plates, screws or pins to stabilize the fracture. Early surgery often helps patients regain mobility and strength more effectively. While many surgeries are similar, each surgery is ultimately unique based on how the fracture occurred and the best way to fix it once your surgeon has full visibility.
Preventing Wrist Fractures
While not every accident can be avoided, a few habits can reduce your risk:
Build Stronger Bones
- Eat a diet rich in protein, calcium and vitamin D
- Engage in weight-bearing exercise
- Avoid smoking
Prevent Falls
- Wear supportive shoes
- Remove tripping hazards at home
- Improve lighting
- Install handrails and grab bars where needed
- Avoid icy or slippery surfaces when possible
Wear Protective Gear
Use wrist guards for activities such as:
- Snowboarding
- In-line skating
- Certain contact sports
Fractured Wrist Treatment at OrthoNebraska
Recovering from a broken wrist in the Omaha area? At OrthoNebraska, we want to make sure that our patients feel understood, safe and confident to take on an appropriate treatment plan. With proper management, we can help reduce or eliminate your pain and get back to your typical activities.
