How do I ... splint a distal radius fracture?

FOOSH! So many patients fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH) - darn gravity! For adults, the most common injury is a distal radius fracture. After you get radiographs 4 views of the injured wrist (PA, lateral, oblique, and Scaphoid stress view), have the patient go back to the room while you take a look at the films. 

You may not have all the words to describe the fracture, but as you look more and more at wrist radiographs, you will become familiar with Gilula lines, ulnar variance, radial inclination and volar/dorsal tilt. By looking at the xrays, you will be able to provide the best possible care for your patient rather than sending them home until you get the radiology report - yikes! 

You could miss a fracture and the patient does not know. We have seen this happen time and time again. One elderly patient was told she would get a phone call with the radiology report, but she did not hear back from the clinic so she went to the chiropractor to have her wrist evaluated and treated - yikes again!

Distal radius fractures occur in a variety of fracture patterns. If you have to zoom in and you barely see a fracture line, then a wrist cock-up brace/splint from home medical supply would be sufficient.

However, if you have an xray that looks like this, the patient should be placed in a non-removable splint (option for Short Arm Splint vs. Sugartong Splint)! You could use plaster or fiberglass (like OrthoGlass, OneStep, etc.). This will limit motion at the fracture site AND help with the patient’s pain - WIN WIN!

This video walks you step by step how to apply a Short Arm Splint for a distal radius fracture.

You can also download a PDF Splinting Guide to use as a reference!

To your success in providing exceptional orthopedic care for patients!

- Vanessa