A Colles' fracture—or distal radius fracture—is often called a “broken wrist.”Technically, it's a break in the larger of the two bones in your forearm. The bone breaks on the lower end, close to where it connects to the bones of the hand on the thumb side of the wrist.

Colles' fractures are very common; they're the most frequently broken bone in the arm. In the United States, one out of every 10 broken bones is a broken wrist.

Usually, these injuries result from falling onto an outstretched arm or getting hit on the wrist.

Broken wrists are common in people who play contact sports, as well as skiers, inline skaters, and bikers. People with osteoporosis or thinning of the bones are at particularly high-risk for wrist fractures. But they can happen to anyone who takes a fall or gets hit.

In more serious cases, the following may occur:

●The break extends into the wrist joint.

●A piece of broken bone breaks through the skin.

●The bone is broken in multiple places.

●Ligaments may be torn.

●These types of broken wrists may be harder to treat.

Symptoms of a broken wrist can include:

●Pain, especially when flexing the wrist

●Tenderness

●Swelling

●Bruising

●Deformity of the wrist, causing it to look crooked and bent.

Occasionally, a broken wrist can affect the nerves or blood flow. You should go to the emergency room if:

●Your wrist is in great pain.

●Your wrist, arm, or hand is numb.

●Your fingers are pale.

If the broken wrist is not in the correct position to heal, the doctor may need to reset it. This can be pretty painful so it's usually done with anesthesia. However, painkillers will help afterward.

The patient will probably also need:

A splint, which you might use for a few days to a week while the swelling goes down. If a splint is used initially, a cast is usually put on about a week later.

A cast, which you might need for six to eight weeks or longer, depending on how bad the break is. (You might need a second cast if the first one gets too loose after the swelling goes away.)

Regular X-rays to make sure your wrist is healing normally.

You will probably also want to:

Elevate your wrist on a pillow or the back of a chair above the level of your heart for the first few days. This will ease pain and swelling.

Ice the wrist. Do this for 20-30 minutes every three to four hours for two to three days. Be careful to keep the splint or cast dry while icing.

Take over-the-counter painkillers. Ask your doctor about nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin. They can help with pain and swelling. However, these drugs have side effects, such as an increased risk of bleeding and ulcers. They should be used only occasionally unless your doctor specifically says otherwise, as this may delay healing.

Practice stretching and strengthening exercises of the fingers, elbow, and shoulder if your doctor recommends them.

Most of the time, these treatments will be enough. But sometimes, people with a broken wrist need surgery. Your doctor might suggest this if the bone is not likely to heal well in a cast. Sometimes, pins, plates, screws, or other devices are needed to hold the bone in place so it can mend.

Of course, what you really want to know is when you can get back in the game after breaking your wrist. There's no easy answer.

Here are some things to keep in mind during recovery from a broken wrist:

It might take eight weeks or longer for your wrist to heal. More severe breaks may not fully mend for six months. You and your doctor will decide when you are fully recovered.

Don't rush back into your activity too soon. If you start working out before your wrist is healed, you could cause more serious damage.

You may still have discomfort and stiffness in your wrist for months, or even years, after the injury.

Follow your doctor's instructions for taking care of your cast. Remember that casts cannot get wet.

See your doctor if the pain or swelling keeps getting worse after you get a cast or if you experience numbness in your fingers.

A broken wrist is tough to prevent, since it usually happens during an accidental fall. But it can help to use wrist guards during risky sports, like inline skating. Sometimes, a broken wrist can indicate osteoporosis, especially in women. Talk to your doctor about your risk factors for osteoporosis and fractures. There are steps you can take to improve your bone health.

anesthesia [,ænis'θiːziə] n.麻醉

aspirin ['æsprin] n.阿司匹林

crooked ['krukid] adj.弯曲的

deformity [di'fɔːməti] n.畸形

ibuprofen [,aibjuː'prəʊf(ə)n] n.布洛芬

ligament ['ligəmənt] n.韧带

numb [nʌm] adj.麻木的

osteoporosis [,ɔstiəupə'rəusis] n.骨质疏松（症）

painkiller ['peinkilə] n.止痛药

reset [,ri'set] v.复位

splint [splint] n.夹板；vt.用夹板固定

tenderness ['tendənəs] n.压痛

ulcer ['ʌlsə] n.溃疡

blood flow 血流

Colles' Fracture 桡骨远端骨折，Colles骨折

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 非甾体类抗炎药

over-the-counter 非处方的

physical exam 体格检查

side effects 副作用

wrist guards 护腕

wrist joint 腕关节