Forearm fractures
Causes, symptoms and treatment methods
The forearm is the part connecting the elbow and the wrist. It consists of two bones (the radius and the ulna), one or both of which may be broken, causing the patient to feel pain.
What are the causes of forearm fractures? What are its symptoms and treatment methods? Let us find out the answer by reading the following lines.
Causes of forearm fractures
Causes of forearm fractures include:
Falling to the ground on an outstretched hand.
Exposure to direct blows and injuries, as may occur during sports.
Severe trauma resulting from car and bicycle accidents.
He pulled the children’s arm violently.
Symptoms of forearm fractures
The feeling of pain at the fracture site increases with movement.
Swelling of the fracture area.
The appearance of bruises in the fracture area.
Inability to move the arm.
Diagnosis of forearm fractures
The doctor examines the forearm looking for pain, swelling, deformity, or an open wound. The doctor learns from the injured person the details of the injury, then requests an X-ray of the forearm to determine the location and degree of the fracture. A fracture may require an MRI to obtain clearer images.
Treatment of forearm fractures
Treatment methods for forearm fractures include the following:
Restitution of broken bones
If the fracture is displaced, the doctor may need to move the displaced parts and return them to their natural positions.
Bone fixation
It means restricting the movement of the broken bones using a splint or plaster.
Surgery
Doctors resort to surgical procedures to treat severe or open fractures that require bone reduction. The surgeon may also resort to installing some stabilization devices, such as wires, plates, or screws, in order to ensure the stability of the bones until complete healing.
The doctor may ask the injured person to undergo X-ray imaging at separate intervals throughout the recovery phase to ensure that the bones are healing properly.
