Fractures of the forearm can occur near the wrist( at the distal end of the bone), in the middle of the forearm, or at the top (proximal) end of the bone.
Causes:
- Direct blow
- Fall on an outstretched arm
- Motorcycle accidents
Symptoms:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Inability to rotate arm
- Numbness or weakness in the fingers or wrist(Rare)
Management:
Non-Surgical:
Immediate treatment will be reduction in which the doctor will realign the bones and apply splint and provide a sling to keep your forearm in position.
Rehabilitation begins after a few weeks of keeping the arm still, using a cast or brace. Physiotherapist will start with gentle exercises and gradually progress to resisted exercises to increase the strength.
Surgical:
Open reduction and internal fixation with plates, screws or rods is the most common type of surgical repair done
External Fixation is done rarely if the skin and bone are severely damaged.
Rehabilitation depends on complexity of the fracture and stability of the repair. A cast or brace is maintained for 2-6 weeks post surgery after which physiotherapy starts.