Overview

A broken wrist or broken hand is a break or crack in one or more of the bones of your wrist or hand. The most common of these injuries occurs in the wrist when people try to catch themselves during a fall and land hard on an outstretched hand.

Risk factors for a broken wrist or broken hand range from participation in certain sports — such as in-line skating or snowboarding — to having a condition in which bones become thinner and more fragile (osteoporosis).

It's important to treat a broken (fractured) wrist or hand as soon as possible. Otherwise, the bones might not heal in proper alignment, which might affect your ability to do everyday activities, such as writing or buttoning a shirt. Early treatment will also help minimize pain and stiffness.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Symptoms

A broken wrist or broken hand might cause these signs and symptoms:

• Severe pain that might worsen when gripping or squeezing or moving your hand or wrist
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Bruising
• Obvious deformity, such as a bent wrist or crooked finger
• Stiffness or inability to move your fingers or thumb
• Numbness in your hand or fingers

When to call a doctor

If you think you might have a broken wrist or hand, see a doctor immediately, especially if you have numbness, swelling or trouble moving your fingers. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can lead to poor healing, decreased range of motion and decreased grip strength.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Causes

A direct blow or crushing injury to your hands and wrists can break any of the bones in them. Common causes include:

• Falls. Falling onto an outstretched hand is one of the most common causes of a broken wrist or broken hand.
• Sports injuries. Many wrist or hand fractures occur during contact sports or sports in which you might fall onto an outstretched hand — such as in-line skating or snowboarding.
• Motor vehicle crashes. Motor vehicle crashes can cause wrist or hand bones to break, sometimes into many pieces, and often require surgical repair.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of a broken wrist or hand generally includes a physical exam of the affected hand and X-rays.

Other imaging tests

Sometimes, other imaging tests can give your doctor more detail. They are:

• CT scan. CT scans can uncover wrist or hand fractures that X-rays miss. Injuries to soft tissues and blood vessels can be seen on CT scans. This technology takes X-rays from a variety of angles and combines them to depict cross-sectional slices of your body's internal structures.
• MRI. Using radio waves and a powerful magnet to produce detailed images of bone and soft tissues, MRIs are much more sensitive than X-rays and can identify very small fractures and ligament injuries.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Complications

Complications of a broken wrist or broken hand are rare, but they might include:

• Ongoing stiffness, aching or disability. Stiffness, pain or aching in the affected area generally goes away eventually after your cast is removed or after surgery. However, some people have permanent stiffness or pain. Be patient with your recovery, and talk to your doctor about exercises that might help or for a referral to physical or occupational therapy.
• Osteoarthritis. Fractures that extend into the joint can cause arthritis years later. If your wrist or hand starts to hurt or swell long after a break, see your doctor for an evaluation.
• Nerve or blood vessel damage. Trauma to the wrist or hand can injure adjacent nerves and blood vessels. Seek immediate attention if you have numbness or circulation problems.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Prevention

It's impossible to prevent the unforeseen events that often cause a broken wrist or broken hand. But these tips might offer some protection.

Build bone strength

Strong bones come from:

• Eating a nutritious diet with adequate calcium and vitamin D
• Getting plenty of weight-bearing exercise, such as brisk walking
• Quit smoking if you're a smoker

Prevent falls

Most broken wrists occur when people fall forward onto an outstretched hand. To prevent this common injury:

• Wear sensible shoes
• Remove things you can trip over in your home, such as throw rugs
• Light up your living space
• Have your vision checked and, if needed, corrected
• Install grab bars in your bathroom
• Install handrails on your stairways
• Avoid slippery surfaces, if possible, such as snow- or ice-covered walkways

Use protective gear for athletic activities

Wear wrist guards for high-risk activities, such as:

• In-line skating
• Snowboarding
• Rugby
• Football

Risk factors

Participating in certain sports activities and having the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis can increase your chances of breaking a wrist or hand.

Sports activities

Contact sports and activities that increase your risk of falling can increase your risk of breaking bones in your wrist or hand, including:

• Football or soccer, especially on artificial turf
• Rugby
• Horseback riding
• Hockey
• Skiing
• Snowboarding
• In-line skating
• Jumping on a trampoline

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com