Fractures of the Wrist by Mr G J Packer, Orthopaedic Surgeon in Essex, UK.

 
Patient Information for Fractures of the Wrist

From what has been said above it will be obvious that there is no one best method for the treatment of fractures of the wrist. Each fracture needs to be judged upon its merits and there may be a variety of treatment methods which are available depending upon the type of fracture and the demands placed upon the wrist by hand dominance, occupation or leisure interest. It is also important to realise that each Orthopaedic surgeon will have a method or methods of treatment which they are familiar with and which will work for them.

If you are unlucky enough to suffer a fracture of the wrist, the most important thing in treatment is to find a surgeon who understands and has an interest in wrist fractures and who takes an interest not just in the bones or soft tissues but also in the after care and what your demands upon the wrist are likely to be. You might consider asking your surgeon the following:

1. What arrangements are there for aftercare once the operation has been performed or the plaster removed?
2. If an operation is suggested, who is going to perform it and what is their experience with the method suggested.
3. If an operation is proposed will it allow me to mobilise (move) the wrist more quickly than if I opt for plaster treatment.
4. What can go wrong with this treatment method and what can be done to correct it should this happen.

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This page was last updated on 03/Oct/2007