Wrist Fracture Surgery in Surat: Distal Radius and Scaphoid
Dr. Aman Khanna, M.S. Orthopaedics, treats broken wrists in Surat. A stable break is treated in a cast. Wrist fracture surgery, usually plate or screw fixation, is advised when the pieces are displaced, unstable or involve the joint. A suspected broken wrist should be examined and X-rayed on the same day.
What is a broken wrist?
Most broken wrists involve one of two bones. The distal radius is the end of the forearm bone nearest the wrist. It is the bone most often broken at the wrist, usually in a fall onto an outstretched hand. The scaphoid is a small bone on the thumb side of the wrist, and it breaks in the same kind of fall, more often in younger adults.
A broken wrist brings pain, swelling and tenderness, and sometimes a visible bend. Grip is weak and turning the forearm hurts. A scaphoid fracture may show little more than pain at the base of the thumb, so it is often mistaken for a sprain. An injury that is still painful after a few days should be X-rayed, even if the first picture was reported normal. A suspected scaphoid fracture is protected in a splint until it is confirmed or excluded.
When a broken wrist needs an operation
Many wrist fractures heal in a plaster cast. A wrist operation is considered when:
- the pieces are displaced and the position is not held after realignment
- the break enters the joint surface and the pieces do not line up
- the fracture is unstable or broken into several fragments
- a scaphoid fracture is displaced, lies near the end of the bone, or has not healed
- a nerve is affected or the skin is broken over the fracture
The decision uses X-rays, sometimes a CT scan, together with age, which hand is dominant, activity and general health. In some older adults a cast is enough even if a mild bend remains, because the wrist can still work well.
Plate and screw fixation for distal radius fractures
In most patients, distal radius fracture surgery uses a volar plate, a plate and screws fixed on the palm side of the wrist to hold the pieces in position while they heal. This is what patients usually call wrist plate surgery. K-wires, thin metal pins, are used for some patterns.
Surgery is done under an arm nerve block or general anaesthesia. The plate usually stays in unless it later irritates the tendons.
Scaphoid fracture surgery
The scaphoid has a limited blood supply, so a break can heal slowly or not at all. The first X-ray can look normal. If pain at the base of the thumb continues, a repeat X-ray after about ten to fourteen days, or an MRI or CT scan, shows the break. Until it is confirmed, a suspected scaphoid fracture is usually protected in a splint or cast, because waiting without protection risks the bone moving out of position or failing to heal.
A break that sits in good position usually heals in a cast over about six to twelve weeks, sometimes longer. Surgery places a small screw across the fracture to hold the bone together. A scaphoid fracture that goes untreated can end in non-union and, over time, arthritis of the wrist.
Recovery after wrist fracture surgery
Typical recovery:
- the fingers, elbow and shoulder are moved from the first day, and the hand is kept raised to control swelling
- a splint or cast is worn for a few weeks, followed by guided wrist exercises, with a physiotherapist or hand therapist where needed
- light daily tasks come back within weeks; lifting and sport wait until the X-ray shows healing
- stiffness and a lingering ache can last for months, and strength returns gradually
Risks in general terms include stiffness, nerve irritation or carpal tunnel symptoms, tendon irritation from the plate, infection, healing in a poor position or not healing, and a long-lasting pain syndrome of the hand, which is rare.
Children and older adults
Broken wrists in children are treated too; most are managed in a cast, and the growth plate is taken into account. A wrist fracture after a minor fall in an adult over about 50 can be a sign of weak bones, so a bone-health check is worth asking about; see the article on osteoporosis treatment. Plaster care is explained in the cast and plaster guide.
When to get a broken wrist seen urgently
Go to a hospital emergency department the same day for:
- an obvious deformity or severe pain after a fall
- numb, tingling, pale, blue or cold fingers
- a wound over the injury, or bone showing through the skin
- increasing pain or swelling inside a cast
Pain at the thumb side of the wrist after a fall needs an examination and X-ray even when the hand is usable, and a splint protects the wrist until then. A broken wrist should not wait for an OPD slot. Emergency admissions for fresh wrist fractures are accepted at Mahavir Health Campus, Athwa Gate. If you cannot reach Surat quickly, go to the nearest emergency department.
Where to be seen
Mahavir Hospital — Athwa
Mahavir Health Campus, Ring Rd, Athwa Gate, Surat 395001OPD: Mon–Sat 4:00–6:00 PM · By appointment
To book an appointment, message on WhatsApp at +91 89808 22922, and bring your X-rays to the visit.
Frequently asked questions
When is surgery needed for a broken wrist?
Surgery is advised when the broken pieces are displaced, unstable or enter the joint, or when the position is lost in a cast. Many wrist fractures heal well in a cast. The choice is made after X-rays and, where needed, a CT scan.
What is wrist plate surgery?
It is an operation in which a metal plate and screws are fixed to the broken radius, usually on the palm side of the wrist, to hold the pieces in position. It is the commonest operation for an unstable distal radius fracture.
How long does a broken wrist take to heal?
The bone usually unites over about six weeks for many wrist fractures, and a scaphoid fracture can take longer. Movement and grip strength take longer to return than the bone takes to heal.
Can a scaphoid fracture be missed on an X-ray?
Yes. A scaphoid fracture may not show on the first X-ray. If pain at the base of the thumb continues, a repeat X-ray after ten to fourteen days, or an MRI or CT scan, is used to confirm it. Until then the wrist is usually protected in a splint or cast.
When can I drive or lift after a wrist fracture operation?
Driving usually restarts at about six to eight weeks, once the splint is off, you can grip the wheel firmly and the wrist moves well. Lifting waits until the X-ray shows healing, and the doctor gives the timing for your fracture at follow-up.
Where can I consult Dr. Aman Khanna for a broken wrist in Surat?
At the Mahavir Health Campus OPD, Ring Rd, Athwa Gate, Mon to Sat 4 to 6 PM, by appointment. To book an appointment, message on WhatsApp at +91 89808 22922. Emergency admissions for fresh wrist fractures are accepted at Mahavir Health Campus, Athwa Gate. If you cannot reach Surat quickly, go to the nearest emergency department.
Related pages
Hand, Wrist and Elbow Doctor in Surat
Carpal tunnel, trigger finger, wrist tendon pain, ganglion cysts and tennis elbow.
Hand and wrist TraumaFracture Treatment in Surat
Fracture assessment, casting and fixation for limb and joint-area fractures.
Fracture treatment HandCarpal Tunnel Syndrome and Release Surgery
Numbness and tingling in the hand, and when release surgery is advised.
Carpal tunnel BlogFracture plaster cast: what to expect
How a cast is applied, how to care for it and when to call the doctor.
Read article