RADIUS ULNA MIDSHAFT FRACTURES

The radius and Ulna are the two parallel bones in your forearm that connect at one end to your elbow and at the other to your wrist. Fractures of these bones can happen at three locations; the wrist (distal) fractures, fractures can also occur in the middle of the forearm and finally, at the other end of the bones where they join to the elbow (proximal).

Common causes for forearm and elbow fractures

• A direct impact to the area
• A fall or locked resistance (most commonly during sport or in a fall)
• Vehicle accidents

I’ve fractured my arm or elbow. What should I do?

The first step is an examination carried out onsite at our orthopedic specialist clinic in London. This will be followed by further investigation in the form of an x-ray. If you have had an x-ray already please ensure that you bring this with you if possible to your appointment at the private hand surgery. We can discuss next steps.

Will I need surgery?

This will depend of the position of the bones. If everything is well aligned, it might be possible to treat the injury without surgery. Our orthopedic specialist will make a recommendation depending on the severity of the fracture, this might mean a plaster, splint or even just a sling. If the fragments have moved into a poor position, your hand specialist may recommend surgery.

If I do need surgery, does it have to be done immediately?

Not necessarily, in most cases surgery can be safely done any time in the first 2 weeks following the fracture while still achieving an excellent result. However if you are unsure, or would like to get your fracture looked at by the Hand Specialist then please get in touch to book an appointment or talk to a specialist.