Hairline wrist fracture: What are the signs?

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A hairline wrist fracture can affect any bones in the forearm or wrist. The usual causes of the injury include sports injuries, falls, vehicular accidents and repeated force without rest.

Individuals with osteoporosis or other bone conditions face the highest risk for ending up with a hairline wrist fracture. A doctor should be consulted if any symptoms arise after an injury.

Close look on the indications of a hairline wrist fracture

Pain or discomfort

hairline-wrist-fracture
A hairline wrist fracture generally triggers abrupt pain. The pain might be sharp initially but often progresses to an achy, dull pain.

A hairline wrist fracture generally triggers abrupt pain. The pain might be sharp initially but often progresses to an achy, dull pain. It later worsens if the wrist is moved, during lifting or holding objects. The application of an ice pack along with over-the-counter medications can help in reducing the pain.

Swelling

A hairline wrist fracture generally causes swelling right after injury. The inflammation results to the buildup of fluid around the site of the injury. Raising the wrist above the level of the heart during the initial 48 hours after the injury helps in preventing further leakage of fluid into the wrist.

The doctor might also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen to lessen the swelling in the wrist.

Bruising

Bruising might also occur with a hairline wrist fracture since the blood vessels in the bone or adjacent tissues are damage. This results to the leakage of fluid into the adjacent tissues.

A bruise is usually black or bluish in appearance and spreads over the initial few days. After some time, the body reabsorbs the blood and the bruise shrinks and vanishes. A doctor must be seen if the bruising worsens or does not improves over time.

Disclaimer / More Information

The information posted on this page on a hairline wrist fracture is for learning and educational purposes only. To learn to recognize the indications, register for first aid training at one of our training centers located throughout Canada. The training centers are in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Kelowna, Saskatoon, Victoria, Surrey, Mississauga, Winnipeg, Red Deer, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.

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