Fractures of the distal radius are common and many heal well in a plaster or a splint without the need for surgery. However, some that extend into the joint, or change the position of the wrist, or are very displaced may fare better with surgery to re-align the broken bone.
Mr Wharton takes a patient specific approach to the management of distal radius fractures, and carefully talks patients through the risks and benefits of both surgery, or allowing the fracture to heal in its current position. This helps patients understand what their function might be like if the bone heals in the broken position, and therefore helps them make a decision about whether to undergo an operation or not.
If surgery is recommended this is done as a day case procedure under either general (asleep) or regional (nerve block around the shoulder) anaesthetic. The tendons and nerves are gently held out of the way, and the bone is re-aligned using a mobile x-ray machine to confirm the correct position. The bone is then held in position with plates and screws. A plaster is applied for one week after the surgery, and then the patient is encouraged to move the wrist under the supervision of a hand therapist. The hand should be elevated for five days after surgery and the wound must be kept clean and dry for two weeks.
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If you or someone you know has suffered an injury or is experiencing pain in their hand or wrist and would like a consultant-led review, please contact us. Grosvenor Orthopaedics have extensive experience in the treatment of this condition with excellent patient outcomes.
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HAND & WRIST CONDITIONS
If you would like to learn about other hand & wrist conditions click the button below
our specialist HAND & WRIST consultants
Hand and Wrist care at Grosvenor Orthopaedics is lead by Mr Rupert Wharton who is a Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic surgeon with an NHS base at Kingston Hospital. He is further supported by the orthopaedic team here including other consultant surgeons, nurses and care staff.
Our team are well placed to manage and treat a diverse range of hand and wrist concerns utilising cutting edge diagnostic technology and treatment approaches, both surgical and conservative. Below is an overview of some of the conditions we treat but for a more thorough understanding please contact our team here
What some of our patients say
Mrs EL
Thank you for taking great care of me throughout the whole operation process! My recovery has been much faster than anticipated and I am pain free after such a long time!