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About Orthopedic Specialists

Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle provides new and advanced procedures including endoscopic carpel tunnel release surgery for carpal tunnel syrome, complex joint restoration procedures, anterior approach hip replacement surgery, and more.

I Broke My Wrist!

Ok, I didn’t break my wrist, but I treat many people who have sustained such an injury.  Due to the common nature of the injury, I have prepared answers to the common questions that arise in such situations.

Other common names:  Distal Radius Fracture, Fracture of the end of the Radius, Broken Wrist, Wrist Fracture

What is a Broken Wrist? 

Though there are 10 bones that make up the wrist, and each bone has the potential to fracture (medical term for broken bone), by far the most common broken bone in the wrist is a fracture of the end of the radius bone.

Typically, a patient sustains a broken wrist from one of two scenarios; one is that they were in an accident, or fell with such force on their hand that the otherwise normal wrist crushed under significant forces.  The second scenario involves one with less than ideal bone density who falls on an outstretched hand in a way that causes the bone to break.

The difference between the two is the difference in the quality of the bone and the amount of force required to break the bone. The distinction between the two mechanisms is significant as the patient with higher quality bone often has multiple injuries due to the significant force of the injury, and in the patient with poorer bone quality, a thorough bone quality investigation should be considered.

How are Fractures to the end of the Radius evaluated?

X-rays and a physical exam can usually give the information needed to evaluate a distal radius fracture. Occasionally, further imaging such as a CT or MRI may be considered, but this is rare.  In addition to the bone, there is certainly injury to the surrounding soft structures such as tendons, ligaments, muscles and nerves which will affect your outcome.

How is my broken wrist going to be treated? Do I need surgery?

Many factors go into deciding the best treatment for your wrist fracture, but typically I choose the treatment regimen which will allow the best recovery potential, both in the short term and in the long term. This usually initially involves an attempt at manipulating the fracture into the most ideal healing position and holding that position with a splint or cast.

If the wrist fracture falls into an unacceptable position for healing despite maximal non-operative care, then surgical intervention is considered. With experience, training and careful review of current research, I can often predict which fractures can be treated without surgery and which ones will need further surgical stabilization.

How long is the recovery from my broken wrist?

Most patients, regardless of the type of break, have very good long term results. Most fractures treated without surgery will require 6 weeks in a cast, and another 6 weeks to regain most of the strength that was lost. Distal Radius fractures which require surgical stabilization often only need 2 weeks of splinting, followed by 4 weeks of exercise to regain range of motion and another 6 weeks to regain strength.

Most patients are able to do most activities by three months after the injury, but individual circumstances certainly vary.

Educational Feature: Common Shoulder Injuries

Common shoulder injuries typically involve the muscles, ligaments and tendons – and rarely, fractured bones.

Repetitive, stressful sport activities as tennis, pitching, or weightlifting can weaken the shoulder and injure the ligaments.

Intensive training routines, involving excessive, repetitive overhead motion of the arm and shoulder, can over time cause shoulder instability and impingement, and a great deal of pain. … read more

Pediatric Orthopedics at OSS

Highly Specialized Care, Easy Appointment Access, and Plenty of Stickers and Teddy Bears

Did you know that you – and your 9-year-old son who just took a serious tumble and likely has a broken or sprained wrist – can receive top-quality pediatric orthopedic care, quick– right in our cozy Wallingford, Ballard and Mercer Island offices? Drs. Franklin, Peterson, Ruhlman, Watt and Weil all provide orthopedic care for pediatric patients, from infants to adolescents.

Common Pediatric Conditions

The most common pediatric conditions our physicians see are fractures (broken bones), ACL and meniscal tears in adolescents, as well as a wide range of sports- and activity-related injuries in active kids. OSS physicians also care for children with orthopedic deformities, such as webbed digits or congenital trigger thumb; often there are simple treatment options, and if surgery is required, we pride ourselves in a child-friendly experience from start to finish. … read more

Thinking About Carving a Pumpkin?

Unfortunately, many don’t think about the safety issues surrounding this pumpkin carving season!  In addition, turkey carving for Thanksgiving or Christmas also is right around the corner and carries similar risk. As a hand surgeon, I am too often reminded of the lasting effects of quick slip of the knife during the Halloween and holiday season.

Then, there is the clean-up afterward with all the glass in the sink – who hasn’t broken a glass washing dishes after an event. There are too many important tendons, nerves, vessels, ligaments, and bones in your and your families hands that you’ll want to keep around for a long time!

Here are a few tips that can improve safety and provide an important opportunity to create safe handling habits around sharp objects.

  1. The first and most important step is to simply think about safety when using knives and when around sharp objects. I can’t tell you how many times patients come in with severe damage and describe an incident where their mind was thinking about other things. These injuries are common! If they haven’t happened to you or someone you know, you’re lucky.
  2. Do not cut toward your free hand or towards your body. Knives slip – know where it will go if it slips. Place your free hand opposite of where the knife is going.
  3. Keep knife handles dry. Pumpkin contents are slippery!
  4. The sun is not out much these days. However, that’s no excuse for a poorly lit environment – always do your holiday carving in well lit environments.
  5. Keep your knives sharp. This decreases the force needed to cut through an object. Don’t be fooled – dull knives do as much if not more damage when they come in contact with your hands.
  6. Use extreme caution with knives around children. There are many ways to participate – scooping out the pumpkin, drawing the designs. If you must have them participate, consider commercially available pumpkin carving kits which have specially designed knives which attempt to decrease injury.

Finally, if you do have an cut to your hand, place pressure on the injury and keep the arm elevated. Here are a few signs that you should seek additional help:

  • The bleeding doesn’t stop after 15 minutes of holding constant pressure.
  • You experience persistent numbness in your finger.
  • You are unable to flex or extend your finger.
  • The wound is contaminated or too large to close on its own.

If you have questions, you can always call our clinic at 206-633-8100 or respond to this blog. I will try to be prompt is my reply!  If you have an emergency, don’t hesitate to call 911 or drive to your local emergency room.