The spinal vertebrae, the hips and the wrists are among the most commonly fractured bones in the human body. And when a break occurs in one of these bones, the injury should be addressed by a highly trained and specialized orthopedic doctor.
The musculoskeletal system is extensive, containing all of the body’s bones, muscles, ligaments, joints and cartilage. No one can be an expert on every aspect of this system, which is why orthopedic physicians divide their specializations up into certain parts of the body. If you or someone you love has suffered a wrist injury, you you’ll want to know where to find the area’s best distal radial fracture physicians.
- Intra-articular fracture: one that extends into the wrist joint
- Extra-articular fracture: one that does not extend into the wrist
- Open fracture: occurs when the bone breaks the skin (because of the risk of infection, these kind of fractures are considered an emergency and should be surgically repaired within eight hours)
- Comminuted fracture: describes a fracture where the bone is broken into more than two pieces
- Displaced fracture: occurs when there is a gap between the broken pieces, preventing them from lining up straight
- A broken wrist can happen even in dense, healthy bones if the force of the trauma is severe enough (for example, a fall off of a dirt bike). If you are planning to participate in an extreme sport, plan to wear wrist guards may help to soften the blow to the wrist should a fall occur.
- Simple diet and supplementation can make a big difference in preventing the onset of osteoarthritis. Be sure to get plenty of Calcium each day (1,000 - 1,200 mg are recommended) and remember that vitamin D is required for Calcium to be properly absorbed by the body. A supplement may be helpful, especially during colder months when you are not getting as much vitamin D from sunlight. It is recommended that you get 600-800 international units per day.
- Lifestyle adjustments are some of the easiest changes to make in order to prevent future injuries of all kinds, including wrist fractures. Talk to your doctor about achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, make a plan to quit smoking and create time in your schedule every day for at least 15-20 minutes of exercise.