It is important to note that the wrist is comprised of eight small-sized bones in the hand and the ends of the two bones of the forearm. The bones are held in place by the ligaments in order to form the joint at the wrist. If an individual sustained a wrist fracture, any of the bones might be broken. Take note that the end of the radius is the usual bone in the wrist that ends up fractured. A comminuted wrist fracture can occur in vehicular accidents or falls. By enrolling in a first aid class, you will learn how to manage this type of fracture.
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Identifying and evaluating a fracture
A comminuted fracture is basically bone that is broken into more than two pieces. This fracture can be a closed fracture in which bone has not pierced through the skin or an open type in which bone protrudes through the skin. A comminuted fracture is checked using an X-ray or CT scan if needed in order to determine the exact position of the fractured bone pieces.
What are the initial symptoms of a comminuted wrist fracture?
The initial symptoms of a comminuted fracture include immediate pain and tenderness. It can also be accompanied by swelling, bruising, weakness and tingling. The wrist can appear out of place. The treatment typically involves the application of a cast and the correction of the displaced bone fragments. In some cases, the bone fragments might be fixed in place using a plate with screws or metal pins.
How the bone heals
The healing of the affected bone is composed of three stages. The first stage is the inflammation stage in which bleeding from the bone generates a hematoma around the break and inflammation starts the healing process. The second stage is the reparative stage in which the production of bone starts and a fibrous bone callus develops around the fracture. The third stage involves bone remodeling as well as reabsorption of the bone callus. Any disruption in the bone healing process can result to delayed union.
It is important to note that delayed union occurs once a fracture takes a longer time to heal. The usual time for a comminuted wrist fracture to completely heal is about six weeks up to several months. Always remember that any fracture requires stability and sufficient supply of blood to heal properly. There are risk factors that can increase chances of delayed union such as smoking, excessive movement, anemia, poor nutrition, diabetes and advanced age. There are also medications that can cause delayed healing such as aspirin, prednisone and ibuprofen.
What to do for delayed healing?
The indication of delayed healing includes pain in the wrist that is felt by the individual long after the bone fragments should have healed. An X-ray, MRI or CT scan might be required to check if there is a space between the fragments or poor healing. The initial line of defense for delayed union involves immobilization using a cast. If this is not effective, it can be treated using a bone stimulator which is a small-sized electronic device that utilizes ultrasound and electromagnetic waves to stimulate the healing of the bone.