Radius Fracture

It’s a rainy fall morning in Seattle, and you’re hurrying across a slick sidewalk. One quick slip, and you land hard on your outstretched hand. The pain is immediate, your wrist looks swollen, and you can’t move it without wincing. This is one of the most common injuries we see— a distal radius fracture, often simply called a “broken wrist.”

The distal radius is the larger of the two forearm bones and plays a big role in wrist function. When it breaks, the bone can shift or collapse, making everyday tasks like lifting, typing, or even buttoning a shirt painful and difficult. Some of these fractures can be treated in a cast, but others require surgery to restore alignment and prevent long-term stiffness or weakness. Getting the right evaluation early makes a big difference.

If you’ve broken your wrist, don’t wait to find out if it will “heal on its own.” Getting the bone set properly from the start is what protects long-term strength and motion. Through Ortho Compass, you can match with local hand and wrist surgeons who treat these fractures every day—helping you avoid unnecessary delays and get back to your daily routine with confidence.