Display Patient Information Leaflets

Date issued: September 2022

Review date: September 2024 

Ref: C-417 v2

PDF:  Wrist fracture final September 2022 v2.pdf [pdf] 346KB

Wrist Fractures

Please read ALL the information carefully and try to follow all the instructions to ensure you achieve the best functional outcome for your broken wrist.

This leaflet will guide you through the process.

Please remove your soft cast in______weeks

On the ___/___/___

If you have any concerns or questions, call 01752 245072 (Monday-Friday 08:30 – 17:00)

Out of hours, please contact the Emergency Department or Minor Injuries Unit.

**IF YOU NEED TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOR ANY REASON,PLEASE DO NOT LET THEM REMOVE THE CAST WITH A PLASTER SAW, they should use scissors or unwrap the cast**

Advice for patients with a broken wrist who are in a cast

This information leaflet has been given to you to provide some useful advice while your wrist is immobilised in a cast. Following the advice in this leaflet and performing the exercises shown should help your break to heal and prevent the unaffected joints in your hand and arm from becoming stiff.

Why has my wrist been put in a cast?

Your fractured (broken) wrist has been placed in a cast to make sure that the wrist is kept still while the fracture heals. The cast will stay on for up to six weeks. Once the cast has been taken off, your wrist will feel weak and sore. It can take up to a year fully recover, and sometimes all your movement doesn’t return.

While your wrist is in the cast

• Keep the injured arm elevated with your hand above your elbow as much as possible, especially for the first week.

• Avoid standing or sitting with your hand down by your side. If you can, you should place the affected hand on the opposite shoulder whenever you are standing. When sitting you can place your arm on several pillows. At night, you can rest the arm on two pillows to keep it elevated. This helps to reduce swelling in the arm and prevent the plaster from becoming too tight.

• Move the unaffected joints. You should be able to move your fingers fully when in the cast and your elbow and shoulder.

• Perform the exercises on the attached leaflet four times a day.

• Use your affected hand for light activities only, do not lift anything heavy.

• Keep the cast dry.

Please contact the plaster room team immediately if you are affected by any of the following:

• Increased pain.

• Increased swelling.

• Numbness or pins and needles in the affected arm.

• Inability to move your fingers.

• Blueness of the fingers.

• If the cast becomes loose or uncomfortable.

Do not:

• Do not cut your cast.

• Do not wet the cast. Cover the plaster with a plastic bag or cover when in the bath or shower.

• Do not poke anything down the cast as you may cut your skin or cause a wound to become infected.

Exercises

Why should I do these exercises?

These exercises are important, as they will stop your unaffected joints from becoming stiff.

Try and do them at least 3 times a day.

1. Shoulder flexion

Standing or sitting in an upright position, slowly lift your affected arm up towards the ceiling, stretch as high as you can and then lower again.

2. Shoulder Abduction

Slowly take your arm out to the side and try to raise it level with your shoulder

Repeat each exercise 5 times

3. Elbow flexion and extension

Standing or sitting in an upright position slowly bend your affected arm up towards your shoulder and then fully straighten your elbow.

Repeat 5 times

Finger flexion/Extension

Start with all your fingers straight and then bend all the fingers to make a fist.

Repeat 5 times

Bend the joints of your fingers whilst keeping your knuckle joints straight, forming a “hook” position, as the picture above shows, and then straighten the fingers.

Repeat 5 times

Bend your fingers from your knuckles to form a “roof”, as the picture above shows, and then straighten the fingers.

Repeat 5 times

Thumb flexion, extension and opposition

Place the elbow of your affected arm on a table with your fingers pointing towards the ceiling

A. Touch the tip of each finger with your thumb.

Repeat 5 times

B. Move your thumb towards the base of your little finger and then fully straighten the thumb.

Repeat 5 times

Within 2 weeks of the cast being put on you should be able to:

• Make a full fist (fingers touch your cast) and stretch them out fully.

• Touch your little finger with your thumb and stretch it out.

• Fully straighten and bend your elbow.

If you are unable to or your cast restricts any of these movements please contact the fracture clinic 01752 245072

How to Remove a Soft Cast:

 

Step 1

• Find the end of the top layer of the soft cast material. Unwind until completely removed.

Step 2

Bring up the ends of the stockinette to expose the strip of felt

Step 3

• Use scissors with care to cut through the final layer of cast along top of felt to protect skin.

• ALTERNATIVELY

Peel hard cast away to be able to unwrap lower layer.

Step 4

• Cut the felt and stockinette.

• Remove the hand and forearm from the cast.

Step 5

• Feel free to wash your hand and arm in warm soapy water and dry it.

• Use a non-perfumed cream if you have dry skin.

Follow the exercises in this leaflet.

Advice following removal of your soft cast

• It is important to get your wrist moving following a broken wrist.

• The wrist may still look thick and swollen, if so, elevate it at rest and gently exercise it.

• Your wrist may feel stiff and uncomfortable, use appropriate pain relief to allow you to do these exercises.

• Use your wrist within the limits of your discomfort, start using it with light everyday objects/activities and slowly build up to normal over a 4 - 6 week period, for some it will take longer.

You can expect improvements in both range of movement and discomfort for up to 12 months following your injury.

Exercises

• Perform the exercises below at least 3 times a day and perform each 10 times.

• They may be uncomfortable and stiff, slowly increase the range and use simple pain relief to help you with the exercise if required.

You can use your other hand to help “push” the range  of movement

• Progress onto the exercises below once able (i.e. above ones are too easy).

• Perform the exercises below at least 3 times a day and perform each 10 times.

• If you have no weight, a tin of beans or objects in a bag can be used.

If after 4-6 weeks you are still struggling to regain function and range of movement, please complete the attached physiotherapy referral form and send it to the address on the form or email it to:   plh-tr.PhysioOPReferrals@nhs.net

Useful telephone numbers:

Fracture Clinic Plaster Team Tel: 01752 245072

Physiotherapy Tel: 01752 432233