A broken wrist in Dubai: what happens next

If you think you have broken your wrist, support the arm, take off rings and watches, and get it checked the same day. You will almost always need an X-ray. Many broken wrists are treated in a cast for about 4 to 6 weeks; some need surgery to hold the bone in place.

How a broken wrist happens

The usual break is at the end of the radius, the larger forearm bone, just above the wrist. It is called a distal radius fracture. The most common cause is a fall onto an outstretched hand. In older adults with thinner bones (osteoporosis), even a simple trip at home can break the wrist. In younger people it usually takes more force, such as a fall from a bike or scooter, a sports injury or a road accident.

Is it broken or sprained?

It can be hard to tell. A broken wrist usually becomes painful, swollen and bruised straight away, hurts to touch and is hard to move. It may look bent. A bad sprain can look very similar, which is why an X-ray is needed.

What to do in the first hour

• Support the arm in a sling. A folded towel or scarf works.
• Remove rings, bracelets and watches before the hand swells.
• Wrap ice in a cloth and hold it on the wrist for up to 20 minutes.
• Keep the hand raised above the level of the heart.
• Do not eat or drink if the wrist looks badly broken, in case you need an anaesthetic.
• Do not drive yourself. Ask someone to take you.

When to call 998

Call 998 for an ambulance, or go straight to the nearest emergency department, if:

• a bone is coming through the skin, or there is a cut that is bleeding heavily
• the wrist is clearly bent or out of shape
• your fingers are numb, tingling, pale or blue
• the pain is severe and getting worse, or it hurts badly when someone gently straightens your fingers

Numb fingers after a wrist injury can mean a nerve is being squeezed. Severe, rising pain can mean pressure building inside the forearm. Both need treatment quickly.

If the pain is mild, the wrist looks straight and your fingers feel normal, a splint, ice and raising the arm can carry you to a clinic visit the next day.

At the clinic or emergency department

The doctor examines the wrist, checks the feeling and movement in your fingers, and checks the pulse. An X-ray shows whether the bone is broken, how many pieces there are and whether they have moved. Sometimes a CT scan is used to plan surgery.

If the bone is in a good position

You will have a splint for the first days, while swelling settles, and then often a cast. The cast may be changed as the swelling goes down and it becomes loose. You will have repeat X-rays, often weekly for the first few weeks, to make sure the bone has not slipped.

If the bone has moved

The doctor may move the bone back into place without a cut, after medicine to numb the area. This is called a reduction. A splint or cast then holds it. In children, and in some older adults whose wrists face little strain, a reduction may not be needed.

If surgery is needed

Some breaks cannot be held in a good position by a cast, or slip while healing. A wrist that heals out of position may not work well. In these cases the surgeon puts the bone back in place through a cut and holds it with a metal plate and screws, pins, or a frame outside the arm. A break through the skin is treated urgently, with cleaning and antibiotics to lower the risk of infection.

Read more about fracture and trauma care in Dubai and hand surgery.

Living with a cast in Dubai

• Keep the cast dry. Water weakens it and trapped moisture irritates the skin. Cover it to shower and stay out of pools and the sea.
• Itching is common for a few days. Do not push anything under the cast.
• Keep your hand raised as much as you can, on a pillow at night.
• Keep moving your fingers, elbow and shoulder so they do not stiffen.
• Use the painkillers you are given. Most fractures hurt for a few weeks.

Recovery

If you do not need surgery, the cast usually comes off about 4 to 6 weeks after the injury. Then physiotherapy starts to bring back movement and strength. Most people recover in about 6 to 12 weeks. Most broken wrists are healed enough for all activities by about 3 months. Stiffness and weakness can last several months, and full recovery from a bad break can take up to a year.

If you are over 50 and broke your wrist in a simple fall, ask about a bone density check. A broken wrist can be the first sign of osteoporosis.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor the same day for any wrist injury that is very painful, swollen, bruised or hard to move. After treatment, contact the clinic if pain gets worse, the cast feels too tight or too loose, your fingers swell or turn blue or white, feel numb, or there is a bad smell or fluid from under the cast.