Find Local Distal Radial Fracture Surgeons in Philadelphia for Adolescent Injuries

Imagine a fall gone wrong—either your grade school child taking a brazen jump off of some high playground equipment, or your middle schooler testing the waters at a local skate park with some new tricks. Wrist fractures can happen in a moment to anyone. But, kids who are bound to take more physical risks on a daily basis are especially vulnerable to wrist injury when they improperly outstretch their arm to cushion their fall. Not surprisingly, the most common arm break is the distal radial bone in the wrist. When the unexpected happens, it is good to know what to expect when you seek out an evaluation and treatment from local distal radial fracture surgeons in Philadelphia.

Becoming informed is the most important step you can take to help your child through the stress of their distal radial fracture. It is important for your adolescent to understand the details of their injury and their treatment plan.

Distal Radial Fracture Definition: Of the two forearm bones making up the wrist, the radius is the sizably bigger than the ulna. Distal refers to the regional location of the radius closest to the hand. A fracture is when any of the above breaks.

Types of Injury:

• Colles fracture refers to the angle of the brake, in which the radius has an upward tilt.

• Intra-articular fractures affect the wrist joint including cartilage.

• Extra-articular fracture indicates a lack of joint injury.

• Open fractures involve a cut through the skin and need an immediate evaluation to reduce the risk of infection.

• Comminuted fracture is a bone break into multiple pieces.

• Displaced fractures have the elements of a comminuted break but the bone pieces are not aligned and straight.

An in-person visit to one of our 20 local Rothman Orthopaedic Institute offices will provide you with crucial access to distal radial fracture surgeons in Philadelphia. A completed evaluation will result in a diagnosis from symptoms ranging from pain, aching, bruises, inflammation, and a limpness or distortion of the wrist. An x-ray will clarify the extent of the injury. There are some instances that require immediate emergency care if you notice that the color of the fingers are abnormal, there is a numbing sensation in the wrist, or the deformity of the break is very painful.

Treatment Options

A splint or cast serve the purpose of immobilizing the distal radial fracture so that bone recovery can occur uninterrupted. The bone may need to be aligned into the correct and natural position for healing. Distal radial fracture surgeons will complete bone alignment through a technique called reduction, which can be completed with an incision through the skin, or without incision as a closed reduction.

In circumstances when the bone needs an intervention beyond the scope of a cast, a distal radial surgeon may need to install metal pins, plates or screws, or an external fixator to stabilize the bone. Special measures are taken to care for any injured cartilage or soft tissue surrounding fracture.

If your adolescent sustained a broken wrist, do not hesitate to reach out to the very best distal radial fracture surgeons in Philadelphia. You can rest assured that the support, information, and treatment options you receive from Rothman Orthopaedic Institute will help your adolescent achieve a confident recovery.