Forearm Fractures

What it is

The forearm has two bones, the radius and ulna, which work together to let you turn your palm up and down. Either or both can break. Breaks near the wrist are covered in distal radius fracture, and breaks at the elbow in elbow fractures.

What causes it

Falls from a height, sports injuries, and car accidents are common causes in younger people. In older adults with weaker bones, a simple trip and fall can break the arm.

Symptoms

A crooked-looking arm is an obvious sign, but a fracture that has not shifted can be harder to spot. Get evaluated if your arm is bruised, painful, swollen, hard to move, or numb. A deep cut near a possible fracture needs immediate attention because of the risk of infection.

Diagnosis

An examination checks the nerves and blood vessels, and X-rays show the fracture. A CT scan or MRI is sometimes added.

Treatment

A displaced fracture may first be straightened (reduced), often in the emergency department, with follow-up with a hand surgeon. Some fractures heal in a cast worn for about four to six weeks. With certain types of breaks, or when a cast won't be effective, surgery with pins, screws, or plates holds the bones in place while they heal.

Recovery

Activities may be restricted for two to three months, and hand therapy is often recommended. Simple fractures usually recover nearly full strength and motion; complex ones may lose some motion or develop arthritis.