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Broken arm or wrist 

A broken arm happens in one or more of your arm’s bones. One of the most common causes of a fractured arm is falling onto an outstretched hand. For a fracture to mend appropriately, it’s critical to get medical attention as soon as possible.

Signs of broken arm or wrist

The first clue that you’ve broken an arm can be a snap or cracking sound. 

Some warning signs and symptoms are:

  • Severe pain that may get worse as you move
  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • An abnormality, such as a bent arm or wrist
  • Having trouble turning your arm from palm up to palm down or the other way around

Seek emergency if;

  • The damage hurts a much
  • There is significant bruising or swelling
  • The affected arm or wrist feels pins and needles, tingling or numb.
  • You have a severe wound oozing a lot of blood
  • You have a bone protruding from your skin
  • Your wrist or arm has a strange angle or shape

Treating a broken arm or wrist

    Treating a broken arm or wrist

    When you get to the hospital, the injured arm will be supported with a splint to prevent any fractured bones from shifting out of place.

    You are injected with painkillers to treat your discomfort. The next step is to utilize an X-ray to determine whether there is a break and how severe it is.

    You can immobilize your arm with a plaster cast while it heals. Before putting on a splint or cast, a doctor could attempt to put the broken bones back in their proper positions using their hands.

    Surgery might be necessary to put shattered bones back in their proper positions if you had a severe break.

    You must attend follow-up sessions to monitor how your arm or wrist is healing.

    Recovery 

    Recovery from a fractured arm or wrist often takes 6 to 8 weeks. If you seriously hurt your arm or wrist, it could take longer.

    Until the damaged bone heals, you must continue wearing your plaster cast.

    You’ll receive a piece of advice from the hospital with activities you should practice each day to hasten your recovery.

    Things to do by yourself to speed up the recovery;

    • Try to keep your hand above your elbow; at night, use a pillow
    • Abide by any exercise instructions given 
    • Use the medications provided to you to reduce pain

    Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
    Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022