As an occupational therapist with a hand therapy clinic in Miami, wrist fractures are a common diagnosis that I treat. Anything that is near the wrist, people call a wrist injury. But you actually have 8 small wrist bones and then 2 longer forearm bones called the radius and the ulna that make up your “wrist”. Today, I want to talk about fractures to the distal radius.
What to know about a distal radius fracture?
Fractures to the distal radius can occur when you fall on an outstretched hand. It is pretty much about the angel and force of the fall. The broken area can get swollen really fast and it can look deformed.
Sometimes, people think just because the fingers can move that the wrist is not broken (one of my patients told me that last week….that’s why I mention it). If you are not sure, go to the doctor, urgent care, or emergency room and get an x-ray. Most of the time there’s a lot of pain and there is limited motion due to the break.
How bad the break is determines what happens next.
Most of the time (but don’t quote me on this…) if you go the ER or urgent care center, they will x-ray you, then place you in a protective splint. Then you are instructed to follow up with an orthopedic/hand doctor.
If your bone is broken in a few pieces but is non-displaced, meaning the bones for the most part are still sitting together. If they can keep it stable, you may be placed in a cast, and follow up in a month.
If your bone is broken in several pieces to many pieces and is displaced, meaning there is a lot of space between the pieces, you may need surgery.
There are a lot of scenarios (I am just giving you two simple ones) and some options that your doctor can give you and you must decide what is right for you.
Do all distal radius fractures need occupational therapy?
custom fitted orthosis
Not everyone that breaks their distal radius requires occupational therapy or certified hand therapy.
However, I wanted to give you some tips that I like to education my own patients about.
1. If the wrist/distal radius is broken and you are in a cast or splint, please make sure that you are fully able to move your fingers all the way down.
It is your big knuckle (the MP joint) that needs to bend all the way down. If it is blocked, you can develop a stiff hand and need a lot of painful occupational therapy.
2. If you are given a prefabricated splint but it’s too big or it doesn’t fit, look for an occupational therapist or certified hand therapy clinic in your local area (like here in Miami) and have a custom fitted orthosis made for you.
Yes, I know…it’s more expensive, but honestly, if it doesn’t fit and you can’t move, let me tell you that you will be spending a lot more in therapy just to get going.
3. Your wrist is broken, not everything else!!
Dear lord keeping everything else moving! Don’t let your shoulder and elbow get tight! And please don’t let you fingers get stiff…
4. Not sure about when to start occupational/certified hand therapy? It’s better to call your therapy center and ask.
They will ask you a few questions and help you determine when you need to come in. But I know that if you are painful and can’t move well, it’s better to come in earlier than later.
When to start your occupational therapy for wrist fracture
Every doctor’s protocol can be different. But when I worked with one surgeon several years back, I did all the post-op cast removal 5 days after surgery, fitted them with a custom fitted orthosis, and started them gently moving. Results can be great.
Now I work with so many doctors and there is a general protocol, but some stick to their own protocol. So it’s never too early but your therapist needs to know the protocol and how to progress. Also ask your doctor. Sometimes they order therapy, sometimes they wait, but you can always ask for the prescription to start therapy.
Occupational therapy and physical therapy can be directly accessed (it’s called direct access, go figure) without your doctor’s prescription as well but for the time being if you are using any kind of insurance for your therapy coverage, you still need a prescription.
Don’t be scared! Starting occupational therapy can be relieving actually. I always explain the whole process to my patients depending on their needs.
Sometimes people need a lot of therapy and sometimes people only need a few sessions to teach them what to do. But at least you get started on regaining your function! And with less pain and limitations!
Hand injures are one of the most painful injures that we treat. But there are techniques that can ease your hand, and get you great results. It’s easier than you think! Request a Free Discovery Visit Today.
Written by Hoang Tran
About the author – Hoang Tran – Miami certified hand therapist
Hoang Tran is a certified hand therapist, the owner of Hands-on Therapy Services and author of the book “The Hands-On Approach”. She loves helping people with hand, neck and shoulder problems, because she knows how bad and debilitating they can get if not addressed and treated properly (once and for all!).
Hands on Therapy Services in Miami is one of the best hand therapy and occupational therapy clinics in the Miami area. The aim of her Miami occupational therapy is to bring patients back to full functionality, without pills, injections or surgery. Occupational and Physical Therapy are both offered at Hands-On Therapy by our experienced therapists who provide a comprehensive approach to your care.
If you are struggling with hand and wrist pain, including
or any other hand, elbow or neck injuries, speak with one of our specialists for FREE by signing up for a 30-minute Discovery Visit here! Talk to our specialist first before booking any paid session. We like to ensure that we can help you before taking you on as a client.
In these difficult times, we are here to help. Telehealth and online sessions are available!
Disclaimer: As with all our pages, this is NOT a substitute for formal medical treatment or occupational therapy. It is intended to inform only. Hands on Therapy Services disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.
