A wrist fracture, or broken wrist, most commonly occurs when someone falls and tries to break their fall by landing on an outstretched hand. This forceful impact transmits stress to the delicate bones of the wrist, causing a break or crack.
Understanding Wrist Fractures
A wrist fracture is a break or crack in one or more of the bones in your wrist. The most frequently injured bones are the radius and ulna, located in the forearm, and the small carpal bones in the wrist itself.
Common Causes:
- Falls: This is the leading cause. Landing heavily on an outstretched hand during a fall is a common scenario.
- High-impact injuries: These include car accidents, sports injuries (e.g., contact sports), and other traumatic events involving significant force to the wrist.
- Direct blows: A direct hit to the wrist from an object can also result in a fracture.
- Stress fractures: These are tiny cracks in the bone caused by repetitive stress or overuse, often seen in athletes.
The Mechanism of Injury:
The mechanism typically involves a combination of forces:
- Axial loading: Force applied directly along the length of the bone (e.g., falling directly onto the wrist).
- Bending: The bone bends beyond its capacity, causing a break.
- Torsion: Twisting forces applied to the wrist can also cause fractures.
The severity of a wrist fracture depends on several factors including the force of the impact, the direction of the force, and the bone(s) involved.
It usually occurs when people fall on an outstretched hand. A broken wrist is a break or crack in one or more of the bones of your wrist. The most common of these injuries occurs in the wrist when people try to catch themselves during a fall and land hard on an outstretched hand.
