How common are wrist fractures? More common than you think. About 250,000 people suffer from these injuries each year in the United States.
Left untreated, it can easily lead to chronic pain and nerve damage. Not to mention that there’s a chance that your bone will be deformed!
That’s why it’s so important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Worried about the costs?
Don’t be. Your own car insurance may cover most if not all of your medical bills. To do this, however, you’ll need to see a no-fault doctor in the state.
Want to know how they can help with your wrist injury? If so, you’re on the right page! Keep reading to learn more about the topic.
Your wrist consists of eight small bones, each of which can break or crack in an accident.
At the end of the day, the severity depends on where and how the bone breaks. For example, “open” fractures are much more serious as the bone will be sticking out of the skin. This increases the risk of infection.
In contrast, “stable” fractures are much easier to treat as the broken ends of the bone will be lined up.
Blunt trauma during a car crash can easily cause fractures in the wrist bones. This can occur if the hand collides with the windshield, steering wheel, or airbag.
Aside from that, there’s also a chance that you’ll damage the ligaments holding the bones together. That will result in a sprain.
Wrist fractures are not always obvious. With that said, there are various symptoms that you can watch out for.
Aside from pain, you might experience swelling, bruising, numbness. Depending on the severity, you might also have difficulty straightening or flexing your wrists or fingers.
A no-fault doctor will diagnose a wrist fracture with an x-ray. They may also choose to order an MRI or CT scan—that will allow them to determine the extent of your injury.
In doing so, they’ll be able to optimize your treatment so that you can recover as soon as possible.
Treatment will depend on how the bone is fractured. For example, surgery may be necessary if the fragments are out of place.
That is, your doctor will have to pin the bone or fix it with screws or plates. That will hold the fragments in the proper position so that they can heal.
The final step will be to immobilize the area with a plaster splint or cast (they’ll also do this if surgery is not required). Keep in mind that rehabilitation may be necessary if you have a severe injury.
Hopefully, that gives you a better idea as to how a no-fault doctor can help with your wrist fracture. If anything, you want to seek treatment as soon as possible!
Looking for an experienced injury doctor? Call us today at 1-800-897-8440 to book an appointment with one near you!
