May also be called: Broken Wrist; Colles' Fracture
Fractures of the distal radius and ulna, or broken
bones of the forearm, are common injuries, usually from a forward fall.
More to Know
The radius and the ulna are the bones
of the forearm found between the elbow and wrist. The radius is the bone on the thumb
side and the ulna is the bone on the little finger side. People may break both of
these bones when they trip and hold an arm out to stop the fall. The distal (closest
to the hand) part of the bones are most likely to be injured.
Keep in Mind
Doctors use casts or splints
to keep bones from moving and to support injured limbs while they heal. Casts wrap
around the broken area and can be made out of plaster, fiberglass, or even plastic
and air (called an air cast). A splint is like a cast, but does not go all the way
around the arm.
Broken bones heal at different rates, depending on the age of the person and the
type of fracture.
All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical
experts.
