Distal Radius Fracture Surgery for Active Individuals in Jackson, WY
Distal radius fracture surgery may be recommended to treat a broken radius, the larger of the two arm bones, if the break occurs at the end closest to the wrist. A common injury often referred to as a broken wrist, a distal radius fracture can result from trauma, such as a car accident or fall. Sometimes, it is an early sign of osteoarthritis in the wrist joint. If you’ve sustained an injury or are experiencing unexplained pain in your wrist, you can consult with a qualified hand, wrist, and upper extremity doctor at Teton Orthopaedics in Jackson, WY.
A broken wrist will heal on its own; however, it may not heal in a functional position. Therefore, the goal of any treatment for a distal radius fracture, whether it involves surgery or a conservative approach, is to realign the bone into its proper position to relieve pain and restore function. At Teton Orthopaedics, non-surgical treatment is preferred whenever possible. During a personal consultation at our clinic in Jackson, Wyoming, our hand, wrist, and upper extremity doctor can evaluate the severity of a break, as well as a patient’s age, general health, lifestyle, and preferences, before making treatment recommendations. Some options include:
- Closed reduction – In some cases, a distal radius fracture can be manually realigned without creating an incision in the skin.
- Open reduction – In general, distal radius fracture surgery is performed to address severe fractures in which the bone is significantly misaligned.
- Open reduction with internal fixation – After restoring the broken bone to its proper position, a surgeon places an internal fixation device, such as a series of screws, plates, rods, or pins, on the bone to hold it in place during recovery.
After a broken radius is reset, a cast may be molded to the wrist and forearm to maintain proper alignment as the bone heals. Surgery, in and of itself, cannot “heal” a fracture; rather, it allows the bone to be held to its proper alignment while the body produces new bone to bridge the fracture site. This healing process typically requires six to eight weeks to complete.
No referrals are necessary to consult with a hand, wrist, and upper extremity specialist at Teton Orthopaedics, the largest and longest established orthopaedic practice in the Jackson, WY, area. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and learn more about distal radius fracture surgery and other treatment options for a broken wrist.