The most common cause of a distal radius fracture is a **fall onto an outstretched arm**.

Osteoporosis (a disorder that makes bones fragile) increases the risk of fractures, even from **minor falls**. Many fractures in people over **60 years old** result from falls from a standing position.

Even in healthy bones, **severe trauma** (e.g., car accidents, falls from a bike) can generate enough force to break the wrist.

**Prevention Tips:** Good bone health and wearing **wrist guards** during high-risk activities can help prevent fractures.

A broken wrist usually causes **immediate pain**, swelling, and tenderness. In many cases, the wrist appears **bent or deformed**.

• Severe pain that worsens with movement
• Swelling and bruising around the wrist
• Limited range of motion
• Deformity—wrist appearing bent unnaturally

Treatment follows one basic rule: **The broken pieces must be realigned and stabilized until fully healed.** The choice of treatment depends on the **severity of the fracture**, **age and activity level**, and **the surgeon’s recommendation**.

Nonsurgical Treatment

• If the broken bone is in **good position**, a **plaster cast** may be applied until the bone heals.
• If the bone is **misaligned**, the doctor may need to **perform a closed reduction**, where the bone is manually set back into place.
• After **realignment**, the wrist is placed in a **splint or cast**, which may be adjusted over time as swelling decreases.
• Healing is monitored with **regular X-rays** (usually weekly for 3 weeks, then again at 6 weeks).
• The **cast is removed after 6 weeks**, and **physical therapy** is recommended to restore strength and mobility.

Surgical Treatment

In cases where the fracture **cannot be properly realigned in a cast**, surgery may be necessary.

Procedure: Surgery involves making an incision to directly access the broken bones and restore alignment (open reduction).

Various techniques may be used to stabilize the fracture:

• Metal pins (stainless steel or titanium)
• Plate and screws
• External fixator (a stabilizing frame outside the body)
• Combination of techniques

Open Fractures (When the Bone Breaks Through the Skin)

In **open fractures**, immediate surgery is required (within **8 hours**). The wound must be **thoroughly cleaned** to prevent infection, and antibiotics may be prescribed.

If soft tissues are severely damaged, **temporary external fixation** may be used before proceeding with **internal fixation** (plates or screws) in a later procedure.