To diagnose a broken wrist, the consultant will question the patient to:
- Understand the nature of the injury (sports, work, accident, overuse etc)
- Determine the cause of the injury (impact, collision, fall, repetitive/slow onset)
- Understand the context of the suffering (age, return to sport, work, impact on daily living)
- Perform a physical examination to ascertain pain and stability
- Perform specialised wrist tests to confirm diagnosis
Distal Radius Fracture
A broken wrist will present with the following positive signs;
- Injury caused by a fall onto an outstretched arm
- X-Ray confirming distal radius fracture
- Painful and swollen over the wrist of the patient
- Deformity of the wrist
- Loss of movement to the wrist
Since the severity of the type of broken wrist may vary, it is important to see a specialist to diagnose it correctly. Breaks which are confirmed as intra-articular or displaced fractures are serious conditions which need careful management.
If you have sustained a broken wrist, you have a serious condition which needs expert consideration. Dr Manish Gupta is a wrist and hand expert and can quickly diagnose your condition to determine the right care for you.