Procedure-specific guides
Distal radius fracture fixation
To be read alongside the care pathway pages. This is the most common wrist fracture.
The operation
The bone fragments are put back in position and held, most often with a plate and screws placed on the palm side. Other constructs — wires, an external fixator — are used depending on the fracture pattern.
The plate is not removed as a matter of course: it stays in place unless it causes discomfort or irritates a tendon, which is uncommon.
- Plate fixation often allows the wrist to start moving sooner.
- Follow-up X-rays confirm the position is holding.
- A splint or cast is worn for a period, depending on how solid the fixation is.
Moving early — the right joints
Even with the wrist immobilised, the fingers, elbow and shoulder must move from day one. It is the single most effective way to avoid prolonged stiffness and swelling.
A finger left motionless in a cast for six weeks becomes far harder to recover than the wrist itself.
- Make a full fist several times a day, if you are allowed to.
- Raise the arm above your head to keep the shoulder moving.
- Report a cast that is too tight, wet or cracked straight away.
Recovery
The bone generally heals in six to eight weeks, but functional recovery takes longer. Therapy begins according to your surgeon’s instructions.
Expect a swollen, stiff wrist in the mornings for several months, and grip strength that returns gradually over six months to a year. In older people, a small difference in range compared with the other wrist is common and quite compatible with excellent function.
- Driving: once the wrist is free, pain-free and controlled — confirm with your surgeon.
- Heavy work and contact sport: after X-ray confirmation that the bone has healed.
- Report any new snapping, catching or sudden loss of strength.
Urgent
When to call, and who to call
Fingers that are cold, white or bluish, loss of sensation, severe and increasing pain that painkillers do not touch, a dressing that has become too tight, or bleeding that does not stop after ten minutes of pressure: go to the emergency department without waiting for a call back. For a fever, spreading redness or discharge, call the office the same day. If you are unsure, call 811.
Information on this site is general and does not replace a medical consultation. In an emergency, call 911.